Synonyms
Hypercapnia
Definition and Characteristics
Respiratory acidosis (RA) is an acid-base disorder characterized by a primary elevation of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). Compensation for RA involves an increase in plasma HCO3 − that occurs in two phases: (i) a rapid response from titration of non-bicarbonate buffers which has a modest effect, and (ii) a slower kidney response that leads to suppression of net acid excretion and reduced bicarbonate reabsorption. As a result of these compensations [HCO3 −] rises by about 0.4 mEq/L per each 1.0 mm/Hg increase in blood pCO2 elevation.
Prevalence
The prevalence of RA is not precisely known, but it is recognized as a common acid-base disorder. According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) kills over 120,000 people in the United States each year and is the fourth leading cause of death and of the top leading causes of death in the U.S., it is the only one that is rising. RA is...
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References
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© 2009 Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg
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Batlle, D., Syed, E., Sznajder, J.I. (2009). Acidosis, Respiratory. In: Lang, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_3406
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_3406
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67136-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29676-8
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