[Acid base balance in the digestive system].
The mechanisms of acid base balance in digestive organs, including stomach, intestine as well as liver, have been described in the present paper. The stomach secrets large amount of acid as well as sodium bicarbonate, so that hydrogen ion would be lost in the severe vomiting state such as pyloric stenosis, resulting in metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia. In the diarrheal condition, sodium bicarbonate would be lost in large amount, causing metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia. Hepatic failure induces the respiratory alkalosis of which mechanisms have not been clarified yet. In any case, urgent correction of acid base imbalnce would be crucial. It is, however, obscure to date how the systemic acid base imbalnce affects the function of the digestive system. This issue would be promising field in the investigation of digestive diseases.
Terano
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A
Second Department of Medicine, University of Tokyo.
Ota
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S
Shiina
S
S
D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology