Anion Gap
The sum of cations minus the sum of anions
If the anion gap is too high then the blood is acidic
If the blood is acidic the anion gap is too high
If the blood is alkaline the anion gap is too low
That is a critical situation which can be caused by:
1. Increased anions (lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis) or
2. Decreased electrlytes (cations) chloride, magnesium, calcium)
The difference of cations minus anions
The anion gap is calculated by subtracting the sum of the measured serum chloride and bicarbonate concentrations from the measured serum sodium concentration.
The normal range of the anion gap is 8-16 mmol/L.
An increased anion gap indicates a metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap metabolic acidosis is associated with increased serum chloride.
If the level of albumin in the blood is low, the anion gap can be falsely low.
The anion gap is a diagnostic tool to assess a person's health.
If the anion gap is too high or too low, it may indicate a serious medical condition.
**Blood Gas Analysis (CGA)**
* A blood test that measures a set of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acid-base balance-related variables in blood.
* The test also checks the balance of the pH balance in blood.
* Blood naturally regulates the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
* Low blood oxygen (O₂) levels in the blood can lead to many basic problems in the body's tissues and organs, especially in the heart and brain.
* Abnormal blood gases can help pinpoint causes that affect respiration and circulation, especially in emergencies.
Anion Gap
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