Chronic metabolic alkalosis: not uncommon in young children with severe cystic fibrosis.

The acid-base balance of 199 patients with cystic fibrosis, seen from 1987 through 1992 at the Bern Outpatient Clinic, were evaluated. Simple metabolic alkalosis was demonstrated in 16 and mixed metabolic alkalosis and respiratory acidosis in 9 patients. When compared with 10 patients with simple respiratory acidosis and 16 with normal hydrogen ion balance, those with simple metabolic alkalosis were significantly younger. The need for pancreatic enzymes was significantly higher and the relative underweight significantly more severe in patients with either simple or mixed metabolic alkalosis and respiratory acidosis. The results indicate the rather common occurrence of chronic metabolic alkalosis in cystic fibrosis. It is observed in young patients, in patients who need high doses of pancreatic enzymes and in the those with poor nutritional status.