Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Distal renal tubular acidosis

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Renal tubular acidosis - distal; Renal tubular acidosis type I; Type I RTA; RTA - distal; Classical RTA


Symptoms
  • Confusion or decreased alertness
  • Fatigue
  • Impaired growth
  • Increased breathing rate
  • Kidney stones
  • Nephrocalcinosis
  • Osteomalacia
  • Rickets
  • Muscle weakness

Other symptoms can include:

  • Bone pain
  • Decreased urine output
  • Increased heart rate or irregular heartbeat
  • Muscle cramps
  • Pain in the back, flank, or abdomen
  • Skeletal abnormalities

Signs and tests

Arterial blood gas and blood chemistries may suggest metabolic acidosis or electrolyte imbalances, most often low levels of potassium or bicarbonate.

Other tests that may be done include:

  • Urine pH , usually greater than 5.0 in patients with this condition
  • Urinalysis may show increased levels of calcium and potassium

Review Date: 11/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Herbert Y. Lin, MD, PHD, Nephrologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)