Respiration in man during metabolic alkalosis

¹ Cardiopulmonary Laboratory, Veterans Administration Hospital, Bronx, New York

A steady state metabolic alkalosis was induced in two subjects over a period of several days utilizing oral sodium bicarbonate in dosages of 50 g/day. The purpose of inducing steady state metabolic alkalosis was to study the effects of such a state on the respiratory center responses to inspired gas mixtures, containing carbon dioxide, and to contrast these results with the control studies. The experiment was so designed that the arterial pH in both subjects tended to return toward normal in the presence of significant increases in blood bicarbonate. Repeated study of ventilation responses with room air and 4% and 6% carbon dioxide in inspired air revealed a definite and significant decrease in ventilation response to carbon dioxide during the periods of steady state alkalosis as compared to the control periods. Normal responses returned after some time lag. A consistent rise in pa_COCO2 occurred with alkalosis, thus demonstrating respiratory compensation. In neither subject was total lung function or gas exchange affected by the alkalosis. The experiment was confirmed on several occasions with reproducible results.

Note:
(With the Research Assistance of Mary Di Lieto)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. C. Faigel Ondine's Curse and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Teetering on the Brink Clinical Pediatrics, July 1, 1974; 13(7): 567 - 568. [PDF]