[lynk]

Can someone pls clarify the positive and normal gap for me? I dont understand why the body does not balance itself in a positive gap but does in a normal gap (with bicarb and Cl).

 

[khanar]

Please clarify

So am trying to squeeze my mind to understand what you mean by your question but I could not

Please clarify more, what is it exactly that you don't understand!

 

[lynk]

To be honest im not sure what I am trying to ask either :notsure:
The concept has me memorizing and not understanding.
Always acidosis. yes
Always metabolic. yes
Now why would something like Lactic Acidosis be positive and RTA be normal gap?

thanks

 

[ecgram]

in some diseases the loss of hco3- is balanced by anions of the acid eg lactate so the positive(cations) ions are increasing and the negative (anions ) are decreasing

the equation is( na+) -(chloride ion +hco3-) so as i said above if u think that statement accoding to this equation there is an increase in anion gap

but suppose say in diarrhea loss of hco3- is counterbalance by cl- so they balance each other so there wont be any change in the anion gap

hope u got it

 

[lee-usmle]

Useful related thread

Have a look here
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-step-1-forum/1225-renal-tubular-acidosis.html

The above link explains what you are looking for

Also I recommend you use the search function above right. and search for "anion gap" and you'll see a number of useful threads talking about it.