title: Understanding Acid Base Disorders.
abstract: The concentration of hydrogen ions is regulated in biologic solutions. There are currently 3 recognized approaches to assess changes in acid base status. First is the traditional Henderson-Hasselbalch approach, also called the physiologic approach, which uses the relationship between HCO3(-) and Pco2; the second is the standard base excess approach based on the Van Slyke equation. The third approach is the quantitative or Stewart approach, which uses the strong ion difference and the total weak acids. This article explores the origins of the current concepts framing the existing methods to analyze acid base balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Center for Critical Care Nephrology, The CRISMA Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Hernando
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Center for Critical Care Nephrology, The CRISMA Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: kellumja@ccm.upmc.edu.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kellum
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000502:physiology*; D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002021:Buffers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D010313:Partial Pressure; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: Acid base; Base excess; Henderson–Hasselbalch; Hydrogen; Stewart; Strong ion difference; pH