Metabolic acidosis is caused by an increase in which acid?
Feb 01, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, metabolic acidosis may be caused by an increase in substances such as lactic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, keto acids, or uric acid. Patients should promptly seek medical care at a正规 hospital and receive treatment based on their specific condition. Since the onset is often acute, once symptoms suggestive of metabolic acidosis appear, individuals should immediately go to the hospital's respiratory medicine department or emergency department for thorough evaluation and diagnosis.
Generally, metabolic acidosis may be caused by an increase in substances such as lactic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, keto acids, and uric acid. Patients should promptly seek medical care at a正规 hospital and receive treatment based on their specific condition. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is an organic acid produced during intracellular glycolysis. Under hypoxic conditions, cells switch from normal aerobic respiration to lactic acid fermentation to maintain adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. This situation commonly occurs in diseases such as shock, tissue ischemia, and severe infections.
2. Pyruvic Acid
Pyruvic acid is a type of ketone body formed during fat metabolism, particularly when glucose utilization is impaired. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a typical example of pyruvic acid accumulation. When patients have insufficient insulin or insulin resistance, glucose cannot be effectively utilized, forcing the body to rely on fat metabolism, which leads to excessive production of ketone bodies including pyruvic acid.
3. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a metabolite of aspirin, which is a derivative of salicylic acid. In cases of aspirin overdose, excessive intake leads to accumulation of salicylic acid in the body, resulting in metabolic acidosis. Salicylic acid disrupts the body's acid-base balance, causing acidemia.
4. Keto Acids
Keto acids refer to various ketone bodies produced in the body, including β-hydroxybutyric acid. They are primarily associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. In diabetic patients, due to inadequate insulin levels, large amounts of fat are broken down, leading to overproduction of ketone bodies, including keto acids.
5. Uric Acid
Uric acid is a byproduct of nucleic acid metabolism, derived from the breakdown of purines. In certain disease states such as high-purine diets or gout, uric acid production increases. Especially when renal excretory function is impaired, uric acid accumulation can contribute to metabolic acidosis.
Since metabolic acidosis often presents as an acute condition, once symptoms suggestive of this disorder appear, patients should immediately go to the hospital—preferably to the respiratory medicine department or emergency department—for evaluation, including blood biochemistry and arterial blood gas analysis, followed by prompt and appropriate management.
