ReIationship of Plasma Potassium and Hydrogen Ion Concentrations in Acidosis-Induced HyperkaIemia and HyperkaIemia-Induced Acidosis

Abstract

The relationship between the plasma potassium concentration and blood pH was evaluated in acidosis-induced hyperkalemia and hyperkalemiainduced acidosis in rabbits. In the first group of animals, metabolic acidosis was induced by an intravenous infusion of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid, and in the second group, hyperkalemia was induced by an intravenous infusion of 20 mM potassium chloride solution. The third group of animals was infused with both hydrochloric acid and potassium chloride. All three groups showed metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and compensatory respiratory alkalosis. The degree of alkalosis was most extensive in HCl infused, and least in KCl infused animals. The simultaneous infusion of HCl and KCl induced the most extensive change in the acid-base status, and the hydrogen and potassium ion concentrations. However the quantitative relationship between potassium and hydrogen ion concentrations was similar in all three groups. It is, therefore, presumed that acidosis-induced hyperkalemia and hyperkalemia-induced acidosis involve a common mechanism.