Which of the following is a cause of metabolic alkalosis?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a cause of metabolic alkalosis?

Metabolic alkalosis results when there is a loss of hydrogen ions and chloride or a gain of bicarbonate. Prolonged vomiting fits this pattern because it ejects gastric acid (H+ and Cl−) from the body. Losing these ions increases serum bicarbonate, raising the pH. Additionally, volume depletion from vomiting activates mechanisms that retain bicarbonate and excrete hydrogen ions (and shift potassium into cells), further enhancing the alkalosis. Sepsis tends to cause metabolic acidosis, often from tissue hypoperfusion and lactate accumulation. Severe diarrhea also leads to metabolic acidosis due to bicarbonate loss in the stool. Hypoventilation produces respiratory acidosis because carbon dioxide is retained, not a shift in bicarbonate balance.

Metabolic alkalosis results when there is a loss of hydrogen ions and chloride or a gain of bicarbonate. Prolonged vomiting fits this pattern because it ejects gastric acid (H+ and Cl−) from the body. Losing these ions increases serum bicarbonate, raising the pH. Additionally, volume depletion from vomiting activates mechanisms that retain bicarbonate and excrete hydrogen ions (and shift potassium into cells), further enhancing the alkalosis.

Sepsis tends to cause metabolic acidosis, often from tissue hypoperfusion and lactate accumulation. Severe diarrhea also leads to metabolic acidosis due to bicarbonate loss in the stool. Hypoventilation produces respiratory acidosis because carbon dioxide is retained, not a shift in bicarbonate balance.

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