User:Mr. Ibrahem/Renal tubular acidosis

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is the increase of acid in the body due to failure of the kidneys to appropriately acidify the urine, despite the kidneys otherwise functioning normally. Often there are no symptoms, though dehydration, weakness, or confusion may occur. Without treatment complications may include kidney stones, low or high potassium, bone abnormalities such as rickets or osteomalacia, and kidney failure.

RTA is more commonly acquire later in life and less commonly inherited from a person's parents. Some causes include lupus, multiple myeloma, diabetic kidney disease, certain medications, and following a kidney transplant. There are four types: type 1 (distal) involving failure to release hydrogen ions into the urine, type 2 (proximal) involving failure to reabsorb bicarbonate from the urine, type 3 is a mixed of the first two, and type 4 is due to low or resistance to aldosterone. Diagnosis is based on a metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap, high blood chloride, and normal glomerular filtration rate.

Treatment partly depends on the underlying cause. Treatment of type I and II may involve taking either sodium bicarbonate or potassium citrate. Phosphate and vitamin D supplements may also be required. Type IV disease may be treated with fludrocortisone or limiting dietary potassium and a diuretic. Renal tubular acidosis is uncommon. The condition was first described in 1935 by Lightwood.