How does the renal system compensate for respiratory acidosis?

Answer 1

Respiratory acidosis is a metabolic state often seen in COPD'ers. Patients with COPD are unable to properly secrete CO2 from their blood, and in exchange, they become acidotic due to the build up of hydrogen ions. Patients with renal failure are also prone to acidosis due to the damage in their kidneys.

The kidneys are the body's main source of bicarb (HCO3) which helps to compensate (counteract) the effects of CO2. When a decrease in pH is detected, the kidneys begin to retain bicarb to compensate for the excess hydrogen ions in the blood. Unfortunately, compensation is a slow process and can often take several days.

The pH level of the blood is maintained between 7.35 and 7.45. Levels below 7.35 are considered acidotic.

CO2 (the body's "acid") ranges from 35 to 45. Levels above 45 are considered acidotic.

HCO3 (the body's "base") ranges from 22-26. Too little base results in an acidotic state. Therefore, levels below 22 are considered acidotic.

I hope this helped!

Answer 2

Respiratory acidosis is caused by too much carbon dioxide in the body. For whatever reason, the respiratory system is impaired and cannot eliminate the CO2 that it needs to. Since CO2 is acidic it lowers the pH of the blood. The kidneys kick into overdrive and start producing more Bicarb (HCO3) which neutralizes the acidity and raises the pH back to a normal level.

Conversely, if the renal system is impaired and cannot produce enough HCO3 (which will also decrease the pH), the respiratory system will respond by increasing it's elimination of CO2 to maintain a healthy pH in the blood.

In people with chronic respiratory problems, you will see a higher than normal level of CO2 as a "baseline" and as a result their baseline HCO3 will also be higher than normal to keep their pH compensated.

Hope this helps, didn't want to get too technical.

Answer 3

By not excreting as much bicarbonate in the urine. Bicarbonate in the blood acts as a buffer.

Have no idea what knowledge you have already of renal physiology, so a bit tricky to answer.

emedicine has a nice article on respiratory acidosis if you're a med student etc, might be a bit involved for a lay reader

Answer 4

in the kidneys the blood is filtered
a diuretic is help-full in this and the intake of copious fluids