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Anion gap measures unmeasured anions in blood, helping identify metabolic acidosis causes. It's calculated from electrolyte values.
Guía paso a paso
- 1Calculate: AG = [Na⁺] - ([Cl⁻] + [HCO3⁻])
- 2Normal is 8-16 mEq/L (or 6-12 using newer methods)
- 3High AG suggests organic acid accumulation (lactate, ketones)
Ejemplos resueltos
Entrada
Na 138, Cl 104, HCO3 14
Resultado
AG = 20 (elevated, high AG metabolic acidosis)
Suggests lactate or ketosis
Errores comunes a evitar
- ✕Interpreting AG without pH/HCO3 context
- ✕Using outdated normal ranges that don't account for albumin
Preguntas frecuentes
When is anion gap useful?
Differentiating causes of metabolic acidosis: high AG (lactic acid, DKA) vs normal AG (diarrheal losses).
What limits anion gap interpretation?
It's only useful when acidosis is present; anion gap is normal in metabolic alkalosis despite serious pathology.
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