title: Acid-base disturbances in the salicylate-intoxicated adult.
abstract: This study examined the acid-base disturbances in 67 adults with salicylate intoxication. On admission, 66 patients had an acid-base distrubance. In contract to previous suggestions, however, only 25% of the patients had simple respiratory alkalosis. Unlike salicylate intoxication in children, 33% of these adults with salicylate intoxication had ingested additional drugs. These additional drugs generally were CNS depressants and were important determinants of the variety of the acid-base disturbance. Those patients who ingested additional drugs had a significantly lower incidence of respiratory alkalosis (P less than .005) and a higher incidence of respiratory acidosis (P less than .005) and acidemia (P less than 0.25). The incidence of acidemia correlated with the presence of neurological symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000142:Acidosis, Respiratory / Q000139:chemically induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000472:Alkalosis, Respiratory / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012459:Salicylates / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D012459:Salicylates