Moses Elisaf
Medical School,
451 10 Ioannina
Greece
Review Article
Metabolic Abnormalities in Alcoholic Patients: Focus on Acid Base and Electrolyte Disorders
Author(s): Moses Elisaf and Rigas KalaitzidisMoses Elisaf and Rigas Kalaitzidis
Alcoholic patients commonly develop a variety of acid-base and electrolyte disturbances. The aim of this review is to describe the most commonly encountered abnormalities and their significant role in the patients’ morbidity and mortality. Physicians should be aware of these clinically important disturbances caused by alcohol abuse and their underlying pathophysiological mechanisms involved for their appropriate management.
Alcoholic Keto Acidosis (AKA) is a medical emergency is more common than previously thought and is characterized by an increased anion gap metabolic acidosis. However, in AKA mixed acid-base disorders are commonly observed. Alcoholic patients also exhibit severe electrolyte derangements. Multifactorial origin hypomagnesaemia is the most common electrolyte abnormality observed. Hypocalcaemia is also a frequent electrolyte disturbance and is commonly .. View More»
