Abstract
It is well known that neonates, particularly low, birth weight (LBW) infants, tend to develop acidosis (l–3). The relation between maturity and degree of metabolic acidosis in the perinatal period and in early infancy is still controversial. Direct correlation between LBW and metabolic acidosis has been found by some investigators (4,5) but not by others (6). Using adult standards, renal “immaturity” has been described for many functions of the neonatal kidney including the renal acidification mechanisms (7). However, results obtained from acid-base studies in the neonatal period are particularly difficult to evaluate due to the multiplicity of factors involved (Table 1). Among these factors are: different birth weights; gestational and postnatal ages; different clinical situations such as acidotic (acute vs chronic, spontaneous vs induced) vs non-acidotic; different dietary conditions (breast milk vs cow’s milk, fasting, etc). In addition, methodological and technical problems in obtaining urine and blood samples make even more difficult the evaluation of results obtained in this age group. Other factors such as perinatal events, environmental temperature and growth rate, may also influence acid-base equilibrium. In this paper, we will review some concepts about normal acid-base physiology and the response obtained in the neonate with metabolic acidosis at different gestational ages.
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© 1983 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Boston
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Zilleruelo, G., Sultan, S., Bancalari, E., Steele, B., Strauss, J. (1983). Hydrogen Ion Balance in the Neonate. In: Strauss, J. (eds) Neonatal Kidney and Fluid-Electrolytes. Developments in Nephrology, vol 6. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3870-3_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3870-3_13
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