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Anion Gap?

4K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  lee-usmle 
#1 ·
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).
 
#3 ·
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
 
#4 ·
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
 
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