This diagnostic evaluation estimates the focus of unmeasured anions in urine. The method includes measuring urinary sodium, potassium, and chloride, after which making use of a particular method to derive the estimated anion focus. For example, if the urinary sodium is 100 mEq/L, potassium is 50 mEq/L, and chloride is 120 mEq/L, the calculated worth could be 30 mEq/L (100 + 50 – 120 = 30).
The importance of this analysis lies in its means to distinguish between varied causes of metabolic acidosis with a standard serum anion hole, significantly renal tubular acidosis and gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss. A damaging consequence suggests elevated ammonium excretion by the kidneys in response to metabolic acidosis, pointing in direction of bicarbonate loss from the gastrointestinal tract. Conversely, a optimistic consequence signifies impaired ammonium excretion, doubtlessly indicative of distal renal tubular acidosis. Traditionally, this instrument has aided clinicians in precisely diagnosing acid-base problems when serum electrolytes alone present inadequate data.
