title: [Alcoholic ketoacidosis].
abstract: Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is an important and probably underdiagnosed differential diagnosis for metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap. It occurs in patients with prolonged ethanol intake. After a brief period of starvation induced by alcoholic gastritis patients typically present with vomiting, abdominal pain and Kussmaul breathing. Routine testing for urine or serum ketones with ketostix may be negative, since they do not detect beta-hydroxybutyrate and this is characteristically elevated in AKA. We present three cases of AKA and discuss diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Caspar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Risti
authors.forename: P X
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Iten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jost
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Russi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speich
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D000090:Acetoacetates / Q000097:blood; D000138:Acidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood; D007662:Ketosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000090:Acetoacetates; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D000431:Ethanol; C016635:acetoacetic acid; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
vernacular_title: Alkoholische Ketoazidose.