Hyperchloremic acidosis overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Usually the HCO₃^– lost is replaced by a chloride anion, and thus there is a normal anion gap. In normal anion gap acidosis, the increased anion is chloride, which is measured, so the anion gap does not increase. Thus, normal anion gap acidosis is also known as hyperchloremic acidosis. Urine anion gap is useful in evaluating a patient with a normal anion gap.