1. Diarrhea-associated bicarbonate loss
Clinician evaluating hyperchloremic metabolic acidosisBackground
A patient with diarrhea has urine sodium of 25 mmol/L, urine potassium of 35 mmol/L, and urine chloride of 120 mmol/L.
Problem
Determine whether the kidneys are appropriately increasing NH₄⁺ excretion.
How to use
Enter urine sodium 25, urine potassium 35, urine chloride 120, and select 1 decimal place.
U_Na = 25 mmol/L; U_K = 35 mmol/L; U_Cl = 120 mmol/L; decimal places = 1Outcome
UAG = −60 mmol/L. The negative result is categorized as consistent with appropriate NH₄⁺ excretion and an extrarenal, gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss.