The metabolic consequences of the correction of acidosis in uraemia.

Chronic renal failure is associated with increased protein turnover, and recent evidence suggests that this may be due to the accompanying acidosis. Patients with stable chronic renal failure maintained on protein restriction were given sodium bicarbonate supplementation for 8 weeks. This resulted in improvements in acid-base status, plasma urea and uric acid levels, independent of changes in glomerular filtration rate. Acidosis is a potentially reversible toxic effect of chronic renal failure and its correction produces sustained metabolic benefit.