The nature of unmeasured anions in critically ill patients

doi:10.1186/cc6855

Critical Care

Volume 12
Issue 2

Viewing options:

Abstract
Full text
PDF (35KB)

Associated material:

Related literature:

Articles citing this article
on Google Scholar
on ISI Web of Science
on PubMed Central
Other articles by authors
on Google Scholar

Moviat MA
Pickkers P
Ruitenbeek W
van der Hoeven JG

on PubMed

Moviat MA
Pickkers P
Ruitenbeek W
van der Hoeven JG
Related articles/pages
on Google

on Google Scholar

on PubMed

Tools:

Post to:

Letter

The nature of unmeasured anions in critically ill patients

Miriam AM Moviat , Peter Pickkers , Wim Ruitenbeek and Johannes G van der Hoeven

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Postbus 9101; 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2008, 12:416doi:10.1186/cc6855


Published:	22 April 2008

See related commentary by Venkatesh and Morgan, http://ccforum.com/content/12/1/113

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

We read with interest the commentary of Venkatesh and Morgan in the February issue of Critical Care [1], in which they discuss the continuing need for clarification of the nature of unmeasured anions in critically ill patients. The questions asked in this commentary arise from the study of Bruegger and colleagues in a previous issue of this journal [2]. The main issue discussed is the ongoing uncertainty about the contribution of intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to the strong ion gap (SIG). As Venkatesh and Morgan accurately point out, the extremely high concentrations of acetate and citrate found by Bruegger and colleagues may very well be confounded by the exogenous administration of resuscitation fluids and blood products in the animal model described.