In this post… The renal regulation of bicarbonate excretion The pathogenesis of proximal RTA The pathophysiology of vomiting How is renal bicarbonate excretion regulated? With respect to bicarbonate reabsorption, there are two key parameters to consider: the Tm = maximal rate of tubular HCO3 reabsoption and the renal bicarbonate threshold = the serum [HCO3] at which the filtered load exceeds Tm, and bicarbonate begins to appear in the urine.

In this post… The etymology of “tonic”. Is urea an effective osmole? The anatomy of the EFWC equation. How do NaCl supplements help in hyponatraemia? tonic, adj. and n. Medicine, etc. Having the property of increasing or restoring the tone or healthy condition and activity of the system or organs; strengthening, invigorating, bracing. (Of remedies or remedial treatment, and hence of air, climate, etc.) Etymology: Greek of or for stretching

In this post… A summary of our recent salt perspectives paper A few “clinical pearls” relating to salt Introduction We (with Matt Bailey and Bean Dhaun) recently wrote a perspectives article on salt and disease. This was an entertaining and educational process. Here I reflect on what I learned while writing the review, expanding a little on some potentially useful “clinical pearls”. (As the following is discussed in detail and fully referenced in our paper, I have not inserted many references below.

In this post… Why drinking seawater causes dehydration Why giving 0.9% NaCl can exacerbate hyponatraemia in some circumstances How much water do you have to drink to cause hyponatraemia Why most patients on furosemide should also have restricted water intake Why a “tea and toast” diet causes hyponatraemia Why limiting dietary solute intake can help in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus Physicists may still be searching for the grand unified theory of everything, but nephrologists have come pretty close to a unified theory of urine.

In this post… The paradoxical anti-diuretic effects of diuretics A general approach to nephrogenic diabetes insipidus When is a tractor not a tractor? … When it turns into a field Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus Nephrologists are often asked for advice on how to manage patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). Almost always, this has been caused by current or historic lithium exposure. This is one of those referrals that invariably sends me scuttling back to review original literature, because I can never quite remember how on earth diuretics are supposed to magically transform into anti-diuretics in this context, nor the relative merits of thiazides / amiloride / acetazolamide.

In this post… The evolution of the vasopressin system How can one hormone regulate two physiological parameters (tonicity and blood pressure)? Why does terlipressin not always cause profound hyponatraemia? “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” — WH Auden Does terlipressin cause hyponatraemia? We had a patient with hepatorenal syndrome on the unit recently. Her sodium was 125 mM and I found myself wondering - as I always do in such a patient - whether terlipressin could be contributing.

In this post… Electrolyte-free water clearance can help assess disorders of sodium homeostasis Potassium supplementation can help in cases of hyponatraemia What are we made of? What are little girls made of? What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice And all things nice That’s what little girls are made of — Nursery Rhyme Well we are not made of sugar and spice - but what are we made of?