Hyperchloremia (patient information)

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Hyperchloremia
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Hyperchloremia?
Prevention
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Assistant Editor-In Chief: Dipen Kumar[2]

Overview

Hyperchloremia is a condition where the amount chloride ions (Cl^-) in the body are too high. This condition can affect the transport of oxygen.

What are the symptoms of Hyperchloremia?

• Often, hypercloremia does not produce symptoms. However some symptoms can be:
• Excessive fluid loss (diarrhea, vomiting)
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Intense thirst
• Weakness
• Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Pitting Edema (abnormal amount of fluid under the skin, causing swelling)
• Lowered cognitive ability
• Kussmaul's breathing (deep and rapid breathing)
• Possible coma

If the suffer is a diabetic, hyperchloremia can cause high levels of blood sugar.

What causes Hyperchloremia?

Hyperchloremia is caused by:

1. Low Anion Gap (when the difference in positive and negative ions in the serum is low)
2. Metabolic and Endocrine
   • Diabetes insipidus or diabetic coma
   • High sodium level in blood
   • Hyperparathyroidism
   • Metabolic Acidosis
   • Type I and II Renal Tubular Acidosis
   • Hypernatremia
3. Gastorintestinal
   • Dehydration
   • Ileal loops
   • Kidney diseases
   • Loss of pancreatic secretion
   • Prolonged Diarrhea
   • Ureteral colonic anastomosis
   • Vomiting
4. Brain stem injury causing neurogenic hyperventilation
5. Medications
   • Androgens
   • Corticosteroids
   • Diuretics
   • Estrogens

Who is at highest risk?

People who are at risk are people who have diabetes or kidney diseases.

Diagnosis

Tests can be done to check your serum:

• If your serum chloride levels are greater than 106 mEq/L you have hyperchloremia
• Serum pH is under 7.35
• Serum carbon dioxide levels less than 22 mEq/L.

A chloride test can be done on a sample of the total urine collected over a 24-hour period (24-hour urine sample) to find out how much chloride is excreted.

When to seek urgent medical care?

If you have any symptoms and are at risk of hyperchloremia get help immediately.

Where to find medical care for Hyperchloremia?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hyperchloremia