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Respiratory acidosis

Definition:

Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide (a normal by-product of metabolism) produced by the body. This causes a disturbance of the acid-base balance in which body fluids become excessively acidic.

Respiratory acidosis can be a consequence of any lung disease that prevents removal of carbon dioxide. Common lung diseases that lead to respiratory acidosis include: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma, or airway obstruction.

Other diseases that may lead to respiratory acidosis include: the obesity hypoventilation syndrome, excessive fatigue of the diaphragm or muscles of the rib cage, or severe deformities of the spine and rib cage (for example, severe scoliosis).

In chronic respiratory acidosis, mild impairment of the lungs' ability to remove carbon dioxide occurs over a long period of time, leading to a stable situation. This is because the kidneys increase their retention of bicarbonate to maintain an acid-base balance in the blood that is almost normal.

In severe cases, the carbon dioxide builds up very quickly, leading to severe disturbances in the acid-base balance of the blood.



Alternative Names:
Chronic respiratory acidosis; Ventilatory failure; Respiratory failure; Acidosis - respiratory

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Nearly any lung disease may lead to respiratory acidosis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of respiratory acidosis. COPD is most often caused by cigarette smoking.

Review Date: 1/25/2002
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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