Physiology of Acid Base Balance by Dr. ROOMI
Physiology of Acid Base Balance by Dr. ROOMI
Physiology of Acid Base Balance by Dr. ROOMI
It means regulation of pH of body fluids. pH = -log [H+] pH of arterial blood = 7.4 pH of venous blood = 7.35 (because of dissolved CO2) Why it is important to regulate pH??
It is important to regulate pH because enzymes in body need optimal pH & when pH changes, there is marked effect on activity of enzymes. When pH is >7.45, it is ALKALOSIS When pH is <7.35, it is ACIDOSIS In which range of pH, person can survive?
Survival range: (very narrow range) pH of body fluids depend upon BUFFERS in body fluids. What is a BUFFER SYSTEM?
Buffer system is a solution which minimize or resist change in pH (IT CANNOT PREVENT THE CHANGE!!!) A buffer system consists of a weak acid & its salt (mostly) or a weak alkali & its salt, e . g, HCO3- buffer: salt is NaHCO3 & weak acid is H2CO3 It may be KHCO3 salt..but in plasma & ECF main cation is Na+ Another e . g, is PO4 --- buffer: salt is Na2HPO4 & acid is NaH2PO4 ACID: Which can donate H+ BASE: Which can accept H+
BUFFERS:
1) BLOOD (Plasma & RBCs) 2) IN ISF 3) IN ICF
BLOOD BUFFERS:
1) HCO3 BUFFER 2) PO4 BUFFER 3) PROTEIN BUFFER 4) Hb BUFFER IN RBCs
Hb BUFFER IN RBCs
Cation in RBCs = K+ For Hb buffer, salt = K-Hemoglobinate
BUFFERS IN ISF:
HCO3 PO4 Weak protein buffer
BUFFER IN ICF:
Main buffer in ICF is protein buffer. Buffering power of a buffer depends on 2 factors: 1) conc. of buffer (quantitative) 2) pka (qualitative) If conc. is greater, stronger will be the buffer. If pka of buffer is near to pH of blood, stronger will be that buffer. If we compare HCO3 & PO4 buffer, quantitatively powerful is HCO3 buffer. Its conc. is 10x more than PO4 buffer. Qualitatively, PO4 buffer is more powerful, as 6.8 is closer to 7.4 than 6.1.
2) FORMATION OF NON-VOLATILE OR ORGANIC ACIDS DURING METABOLISM OF CHO, FATS & PROT.
- Most of these acids are further oxidized to form CO2 & H2O, but their level increase in the blood when there is increased rate of metabolism. - In hypoxia increased production of these acids. (to provide energy, rapid metabolism) - Certain drugs & disorders can increase their production. - These acids are PYRUVIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, ACETOACETIC ACID & BETA HYDROXY BUTYRIC ACID.
3) FORMATION OF H2SO4:
When S containing compounds (like Cysteine & Methionine) are oxidized, H2SO4 is produced.
4) FORMATION OF H3PO4:
When phospho-esters, phosphatides. Phospho-proteins & nucleo-proteins are hydrolyzed in the body.
4) Small amount of some acids are INGESTED BY MOUTH: Like NH4Cl in cough syrup (noshadir) mild acidosis.
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL BUFFERING:
Most immediate buffering. (when an acid or alkali is added to body fluids, it is the 1st line of defense against disturbance of acid base balance. A) PHYSICO-CHEMICAL BUFFERING OF CO2/VOLATILE ACID: CO2 is transported as HCO3 & in free form. From tissues, CO2 RBCs. In RBCs, CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H2CO3 (unstable) H + HCO3 H ion + Hb HHb (buffered by Hb to form acid-Hb).
At tissue level, deoxy Hb is available. DeoxyHb can bind much more H than oxy-Hb (already acidic).
HCO3 diffuses out into plasma & from plasma, Cl diffuse in to maintain electrical balance. This is HCO3-Cl SHIFT OR HAMBERGERS SHIFT.
Some CO2 combine with amino group of Hb to form CARBAMINO-Hb. Some CO2 binds with amino group of plasma proteins to form CARBAMINO-PROTEINS.
Cl
Hb
carbamino-Hb
H
HCO3
H2CO3
B) PHYSICO-CHEMICAL BUFFERING OF ORGANIC/NON-VOLATILE ACIDS: Carried out by various chemical buffers in body fluids like HCO3 & PO4 buffers. e.g in body there is production of H3PO4, so NaHCO3 will buffer it & we get Na2HPO4 + H2CO3. H3PO4 + NaHCO3 Na2HPO4 + H2CO3. (strong acid) (salt) (weak acid)
CONCLUSION:
In case of volatile acids buffering: Hb & plasma proteins play a role. Incase of organic/non-volatile acid buffering: NaHCO3 is utilized, which must be replenished & body must get rid of acid anion/salt & the weak acid; H2CO3.
In RBC there is reverse reaction. H + HCO3 H2CO3 CO2 + H2O. CO2 alveoli expired out.
As a result of physiological buffering, Hb & plasma proteins are again available to buffer CO2 or H. (RECYCLING)
CO2 is very strong stimulant of respiratory centre.
Buffering by respiratory system takes minutes to hours. Buffering power of resp. system is 1 to twice more powerful, as compared to buffering by chemical buffers in body fluids (HCO3, PO4 buffers etc).
3) METABOLIC ACIDOSIS:
Due to increase H ion production in body, conc of HCO3 decreases. So salt/acid = HCO3/PCO2 = decreased ratio decreased pH, because of less HCO3 in arterial blood. So pH decreases to produce metabolic acidosis.
4) HYPERKALEMIA: In hyperkalemia, body tends to excrete K ion, instead of H ion. So H ion is conserved acidosis. (IN HYPERKALEMIA THERE IS ACIDOSIS). 5) CARBONIC ANHYDRASE INHIBITORS: e.g Acetazolamide. H ions are not secreted & no reabs of HCO3 Metabolic acidosis.
4) METABOLIC ALKALOSIS:
There is more HCO3 conc. in arterial blood, so ratio between salt & acid increases, so pH will increase to produce metabolic alkalosis. CAUSES: 1) Ingestion of large amount of alkali ,e.g, in gastritis & peptic ulcer as a treatment. 2) Vomiting of gastric contents, due to loss of acids from stomach in large amounts. 3) Increase of Aldosterone: Increased Na reabs which is coupled with counter transport of K & also H, so when there is increased aldosterone hypokalemia & alkalosis.
EFFECT OF ALKALOSIS: When ionic calcium decreases hypocalcemia tetany (hyperexcitability of nerves) carpopedal & laryngeal spasm, convulsions, paresthesias due to involvement of sensory nerves.
ANION GAP MEASUREMENT: It is the difference between conc of cations other than Na & conc of anions other than HCO3 & Cl.
ANIONS OTHER THAN HCO3 & Cl: Protein anions, PO4, SO4 & LACTATE. Difference between these 2 concs is called ANION GAP. Anion gap is increased, when conc of cations decreases or anions are increased,e.g, incresed albumin, SO4,PO4,LACTATE & PYRUVATE.
ANION GAP IS INCREASED IN: Metabolic acidosis due to ketoacidosis & lactacidosis like in uncontrolled DM (ketoacidosis) & in severe hypoxia (lactacidosis). ANION GAP IS NOT INCREASED IN: Hyperchloremic acidosis, which may be due to CA Inhibitors (acetazolamide) or ingestion of large amount of NH4Cl.
1) RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS:
Here PCO2 in arterial blood increases, ratio between salt & acid falls, so pH decreases to produce resp acidosis. CAUSES: Decreased rate of pulm vent. due to damage to resp centre or resp centre depression by drugs like morphine or disease of resp centre. Resp muscle paralysis, airway obstruction, pulm fibrosis, pneumothorax & pleural effusion. In resp acidosis, cause is in resp system.
COMPENSATORY MECHANISMS: (from outside resp system) 1) Various non-HCO3 buffers, take up or buffer H ion to produce HCO3 ion. When there is increased PCO2, there is more H2CO3. So non-HCO3 buffers will take up H ion from H2CO3 & left behind is HCO3.
2) Renal compensation: In renal tubules, there is more H ion secretion & more NH3 secretion. More HCO3 reabsorption or regeneration. More titrable acidity of urine. As a result of renal compensation, HCO3 will increase. Ratio of HCO3/PCO2 conc will increase back to normal pH will increase back to normal. In compensated cases of resp acidosis, there is some metabolic alkalosis because HCO3 is increased.
2) RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS:
Here PCO2 in arterial blood decreases. So ratio between salt/acid conc is increased, so pH increases resp alkalosis. CAUSES: Hyper ventilation: Voluntary Hysteria / psychoneurosis Resp centre stimulation in salicylate poisoning & nikethamide (resp stimulant) At high altitude.
COMPENSATION OF RESP ALKALOSIS: 1) By protons donated by various buffers in body fluids (some compensation). 2) Main compensation is through kidneys. In kidney, no H ion secretion, no NH3 secretion, HCO3 is not reabsorbed, it is lost in urine in large amount. H ions are produced in tubular cells which are added to ECF. So urine will be highly alkaline.