RESEARCH ARTICLE
Metabolic Alkalosis in Adults with Stable Cystic Fibrosis
Fahad Al-Ghimlas*, 1, Marie E Faughnan1, 2, Elizabeth Tullis1, 2
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2012Volume: 6
First Page: 59
Last Page: 62
Publisher ID: TORMJ-6-59
DOI: 10.2174/1874306401206010059
Article History:
Received Date: 26/6/2012Revision Received Date: 2/7/2012
Acceptance Date: 5/7/2012
Electronic publication date: 25/7/2012
Collection year: 2012

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background:
The frequency of metabolic alkalosis among adults with stable severe CF-lung disease is unknown.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review.
Results:
Fourteen CF and 6 COPD (controls) patients were included. FEV1 was similar between the two groups. PaO2 was significantly higher in the COPD (mean ± 2 SD is 72.0 ± 6.8 mmHg,) than in the CF group (56.1 ± 4.1 mmHg). The frequency of metabolic alkalosis in CF patients (12/14, 86%) was significantly greater (p=0.04) than in the COPD group (2/6, 33%). Mixed respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis was evident in 4 CF and 1 COPD patients. Primary metabolic alkalosis was observed in 8 CF and none of the COPD patients. One COPD patient had respiratory and metabolic alkalosis.
Conclusions:
Metabolic alkalosis is more frequent in stable patients with CF lung disease than in COPD patients. This might be due to defective CFTR function with abnormal electrolyte transport within the kidney and/ or gastrointestinal tract.