Occurrence of respiratory alkalosis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients with pulmonary disease.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients are prone to develop respiratory alkalosis when hypoxemia occurs secondary to pulmonary problems. This is due to "fixed" bicarbonate levels that do not allow for an unlimited degree of hyperventilation. Recognition of this problem is important because treatment with oxygen or acidification with ammonium chloride is effective in avoiding severe alkalemia in these patients.