Sure. The medullary respiratory center is directly stimulated, causing primary respiratory alkalosis and leading to compensatory renal bicarbonate excretion. Increased renal secretion of sodium, potassium, and water accompanies loss of bicarbonate in the urine. When enough potassium has been depleted and enough dehydration has occurred, paradoxical aciduria takes place.
Salicylates are an uncoupling agent at high doses, and allow protons to go through the inner mitochondrial membrane instead of ATP synthase, which causes a shutdown of ATP production, and all the energy created in the process of electron flow and proton gradient formation is given off as heat, leading to fever. Furthermore, salicylates inhibit the Krebs cycle, specifically the succinate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketogluterate dehydrogenase enzymes, which causes lactic acidosis to predominate. The metabolism of fatty acids likewise becomes increased, generating ketosis. Finally, salicylate toxicity may cause renal insufficiency and retention of phosphoric and sulfuric acids. Cumulatively, this creates an anion-gap metabolic acidosis.
The end-result is a hypermetabolic state, with increased O2 consumption, increased CO2 production, accelerated glycolytic and lipolytic pathways, and hyperpyrexia. The hyperpyrexia, hyperventilation, renal losses, and possibly vomiting, result in severe dehydration.
This is all just a curiosity, in the context of Step 1 studying, and you'll have to know none of the above. The questions you will probably be asked are what the disturbances are early vs late (possibly including an up/down arrow set of choices), and about alkalinization of urine to help facilitate excretion.
