STUDIES OF ALKALOSIS. II. ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES IN ALKALOSIS RESULTING FROM PYLORIC OBSTRUCTION 1

Abstract

Four adult males with pyloric obstruction due to duodenal ulcers were extensively studied, while only serum changes in a larger series of 14 patients with loss of upper gastro-intestinal secretions were measured. The well known abnormalities of water and electrolyte metabolism which were demonstrated included high serum CO2 content, hypochloremia, hyponatremia, and azotemia. In addition, evidence is presented that intracellular deficit of K was an important feature of the syndrome, and that hypopotas-semia was usually present. An excessive urinary excretion of K, combined with moderate gastro-intestinal losses and essentially no intake of the cation, appeared to explain this deficit. Data obtained from clearance measurements suggested that the hyperpotassuria was the result of a variety of phenomena affecting renal tubular control of K excretion.