Anion gap: Difference between revisions

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**[[Lithium Toxicity]]
**[[Lithium Toxicity]]
*Increased cationic paraprotein
*Increased cationic paraprotein
*[Multiple myeloma
*Multiple myeloma
**Polyclonal IgG gammopathy
**Polyclonal IgG gammopathy
*Pseudo
*Pseudo

Revision as of 18:32, 14 May 2015

Background

AG = Na - (Cl + HCO3)

Normal Anion Gap = 12+/-4 (8-16)

Cutoffs for "normal" Anion Gap are laboratory and equipment specific. Newer technology and equipment have been shown to measure "low" AG in otherwise normal, healthy people.[1][2]

Elevated Anion Gap

Differential Diagnosis

MUDPILES

Also:

Low Anion Gap

Differential Diagnosis

  • Lab error
  • Decreased "unmeasured" anions
    • Hypoalbuminemia
  • Increased "unmeasured" cations
  • Increased cationic paraprotein
  • Multiple myeloma
    • Polyclonal IgG gammopathy
  • Pseudo
    • Severe Hypernatremia (>170 meq/L)
      • True conc of Na is underestimated
    • Marked hyperlipidemia
      • Leads to overestimation of plasma Cl conc)
    • Bromide intoxication (e.g. for myasthenia gravis and some herbal medications)
      • Machine mistakenly reads Br as Cl
  • AG falls by 2.5 meq/L for every 1 g/dL reduction in albumin concentration

See Also

Anion Gap and Osmolar Gap (High)

Sources

  1. Jurado RL, del Rio C, Nassar G, Navarette J, Pimentel JL Jr. "Low anion gap." South Med J. 1998;91(7):624
  2. Winter SD, Pearson JR, Gabow PA, Schultz AL, Lepoff RB. "The fall of the serum anion gap." Arch Intern Med. 1990;150(2):311