Electrolyte and acid-base disorders in inflammatory bowel disease.

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD) IS A CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY INTESTINAL DISORDER ENCOMPASSING TWO MAJOR ENTITIES: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Intestinal inflammatory processes reduce the absorption of sodium, chloride and calcium, while they increase potassium secretion. In addition, mild to severe metabolic alkalosis may occur in IBD patients, mainly depending on the severity of the disease and the part of the gastrointestinal tract being affected. The aim of this review is the presentation of the electrolyte and acid-base disturbances in IBD and how the activity state of the disease and/or treatment may affect them.