Renal Question: Help?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Turtlez

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
212
Reaction score
19
Ok, can someone please explain the following sentence from first aid's diuretics section?

In low K state, H (rather than K) is exchanged for Na in cortical collecting tubule, leading to alkalosis and "paradoxical aciduria"

What is the mechanism behind this paradoxical aciduria? Much thanks!

Members don't see this ad.
 
...you just explained it. The Na/H pump is favoured over the Na/K pump. Maybe I'm missing something? Are you asking why it's paradoxical? Something else?
 
Ok, can someone please explain the following sentence from first aid's diuretics section?

In low K state, H (rather than K) is exchanged for Na in cortical collecting tubule, leading to alkalosis and "paradoxical aciduria"

What is the mechanism behind this paradoxical aciduria? Much thanks!

The mechanism is the Na/H exchanger. It's paradoxical because in the presence of an alkalosis you would expect an alkalotic urine.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Hi

Means that when K+ is low in blood, H+ from blood is exchanging for K+ from the cells done by a pump exchanger. This also happens in kidney collecting tubule and that is why you lose H+ in the urine, PARADOXICALLY, to save blood K+, not to get rid of the acid. Result is metabolic alkalosis+paradoxical aciduria.
 
Concentration of K+ in plasma is related to NH3 synthesis, with hypokalemia stimulating NH3 synthesis which leads to excretion of H+ as NH4+ in urine. Excreting H+ from plasma leads to alkalosis.
Another possible explanation may be related to the H-K exchanger which can be bidirectional, thereby if you have low H+ in the blood, the exchanger will add H+ to the blood, while taking K+ inside the cell and the other way around. So low K+ could be corrected by exchanging it for H+ leading to excess H+ in the urine and lower H+ in the blood.
 
Top