Alkalosis types/causes

Diuretics are needed to return to normal the expanded extracellular volume that other antihypertensive agents produce, such as fluid retention and blood volume expansion, via compensatory mechanisms of the body. The loss of efficacy of antihypertensive agents can be restored if a diuretic is used concomitandy. In the treatment of hypertension, high ceiling or loop diuretics, such as furosemide, ethacrynic acid, and bumetanide, are no more efficacious than the thiazide-type of diuretics. In fact, these agents cause more side effects, such as dehydration, metaboHc alkalosis, etc, and therefore, should not be used except in situations where rapid elimination of duid volume is cleady indicated. 

Thus the drop in ammonia content of plasma in alkalosis may be related to the pH effect on urea synthesis rather than to the alterations in permeability caused by changes in pNHs. The treatment of hepatic coma by acidification with C02 would lower pH, inhibiting synthesis of urea. This would cause a rise in blood ammonia. The same type of change could be brought about by infusion of HC1, which would have a double effect on urea synthesis by lowering both pH and bicarbonate. It does not appear necessary to invoke a penetration hypothesis to explain the... 

Adverse reactions Metabolic and electrolyte disturbances, hypochloremic alkalosis, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, hypomagnesemia, may cause hearing loss and tinnitus Potassium-sparing Less potent than the other types, protects against potassium loss... 

A condition in which there is an accumulation of base or loss of acid capable of causing a rise in pH to above normal limits (an uncompensated alkalosis). If this has been corrected by compensatory mechanisms (see below), it is known as a compensated alkalosis. There are two classes of alkalosis depending on their aetiology, although occasionally a mixed type may be encountered. 

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