Metabolic acidosis - high anion gap

[Hutan]

Looking over my blood tests, I see that the two times (a few years ago) my anion gap was calculated it was just above the normal range (e.g 18 when the range is 8 to 16). My son's anion gap was similarly at the high end of normal.

A high anion gap suggests that the blood is too acid - i.e. acidosis.


And my low levels of albumin might be making the anion gap appear more normal than it is.

Since the normal anion gap is largely a result of the charge on albumin, the observed anion gap may fail to detect increased concentrations of lactate or “unmeasured” anions, such as ketones, pyruvate, or pyroglutamic acid, if the serum albumin is low.

https://adc.bmj.com/content/87/6/526

Has anyone identified a similar problem?

 

[AndyPandy]

@Hutan

I vaguely remember looking at this with my own results a while back. I’m too sick to check just now but will do so when I’m up to it and let you know.

 

[Simone]

I can’t remember the details (I’d have to look at my old tests), but my ME/CFS doctor looks at the anion gap and has found that patients often have acidosis.

 

[MeSci]

Looking over my blood tests, I see that the two times (a few years ago) my anion gap was calculated it was just above the normal range (e.g 18 when the range is 8 to 16). My son's anion gap was similarly at the high end of normal.

A high anion gap suggests that the blood is too acid - i.e. acidosis.


And my low levels of albumin might be making the anion gap appear more normal than it is.


https://adc.bmj.com/content/87/6/526

Has anyone identified a similar problem?

I think that's why I take sodium bicarbonate. Unfortunately my brain doesn't work very well currently (for the last 2 and a half years) but I'm sure I've written plenty of coherent stuff on Phoenix Rising.

 

[chelby]

Yes, I got high anion gap metabolic acidosis and was admitted for 3 days with it.