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What is the Anion gap?
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The difference between cations (Na+ & K+) and anions (Cl- & HCO3-).
Normally 15mmol/L It is useful as there are 2 patterns of metabolic acidosis: TYPE A: no change anion gap - as acid accumulates or bicarb is lost CAUSE: Renal tubular acidosis (loss HCO3), other causes loss HCO3 (BICARB) TYPE B: Increased anion gap - as accumulating acid accompanied by corresponding anion increasing gap CAUSE: DKA (ketones accumulate), lactic acidosis (tissue hypoxia) renal failure (organic acids accumulate instead of being excreted) |