Clinical significance of calculating the plasma anion gap in metabolic acidosis in newborns with neonatal sepsis

Abstract

In critical conditions, one of the most common acid-base disorders is metabolic acidosis. At the same time, an undeservedly forgotten parameter in the diagnosis of metabolic acidosis is the plasma anion gap. Purpose of the study: to determine the possibility of using the plasma anion gap for differential diagnosis of metabolic acidosis in newborns with neonatal sepsis. To achieve this goal, the patients of the intensive care unit and intensive care unit for newborns were examined. Inclusion criteria: neonatal period, presence of neonatal sepsis, laboratory signs of metabolic acidosis. In total, 17 newborns with neonatal sepsis were under observation. The diagnosis of neonatal sepsis was established on the basis of a suspected or documented infection in combination with acute organ dysfunction, the development of which was judged by the pSOFA index by 2 points or more from the baseline value. Metabolic acidosis was identified in 5 patients. In newborns with neonatal sepsis, metabolic acidosis was more often recorded with an increase in the plasma anion gap, which is due to lactic acidosis as a result of the accumulation of lactic acid, as a marker of tissue hypoxia. A decrease in the plasma anion gap was detected less frequently and could indicate a loss of bicarbonate anion through the gastrointestinal tract or as a result of hypoalbuminemia. It has been shown that the plasma anion gap can serve as an additional information criterion for characterizing metabolic acidosis. Plasma anion gap calculation is an inexpensive and effective tool that can help differentiate metabolic acidosis in newborns with neonatal sepsis for adequate intensive care.

Keywords

• acid-base state
• metabolic acidosis
• lactic acidosis
• ketoacidosis
• serum ions
• plasma anion gap
• bicarbonate anion
• children
• newborns
• sepsis