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- Jul 6, 2009
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Paradoxic aciduria - this is seriously killing me.
There's a question in Usmle Rx which basically asks what is the cause of paradoxic acuduria in a vomiting patient.
The answer was "hypokalemia".
The explanation: Basically the acidic urine occurs b/c the kidneys preserve Na (and H20) at the expense of K and H.
The point that confuses me is, is the Na that is reabsorbed exchanged for excretion of K+ or H+? Rx says Na is initially exchanged for K. As K is depleted in this manner, K is eventually exchanged for H to prevent worsening hypokalemia.
However other sources say Na is exchanged with H directly, and not with K.
So is it Na/K + K/H exchange? or Na/H + Na/K exchange?
Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is this being too nitpicky? Thanks!!
There's a question in Usmle Rx which basically asks what is the cause of paradoxic acuduria in a vomiting patient.
The answer was "hypokalemia".
The explanation: Basically the acidic urine occurs b/c the kidneys preserve Na (and H20) at the expense of K and H.
The point that confuses me is, is the Na that is reabsorbed exchanged for excretion of K+ or H+? Rx says Na is initially exchanged for K. As K is depleted in this manner, K is eventually exchanged for H to prevent worsening hypokalemia.
However other sources say Na is exchanged with H directly, and not with K.
So is it Na/K + K/H exchange? or Na/H + Na/K exchange?
Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is this being too nitpicky? Thanks!!