Hyperchloremic Metabolic Acidosis Due to Intestinal Losses and Other Nonrenal Causes

Hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis (HCMA) results either from the loss of HCO3

or the retention of HCl or its equivalent (see Chapter 9), and is defined by the presence of a normal anion gap. In most instances, it is caused by disorders of the kidney or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This chapter focuses on intestinal disorders and other nonrenal causes (Table 1).