Renal Tubular Acidosis

• We are really talking about a medullary problem

• The glomerulus is targeted (this is a cortical problem usually)

• Proximal and distal CT is also taken out since it is in the cortex too.

• This is a tubule that cannot eliminate H+

• What kind of urine is produced?

  • ALKALINE urine

• The acid is still in the body

• If the tubules are damaged the urine will be alkaline even though there is acidic conditions in the tubules

• In the proximal tubule

  • The body cannot recover bicarbonate (over buffered urine)

• Distal tubule

  • The H= is not allowed to enter urine (blood keeps the acid load and urine is denied)

  • There is an over buffered urine since there is no H+ to mix with it

• 4th type is acidosis with hyperkalemia (found with diabetics)

Category: Medicine Notes