The clinical spectrum of renal tubular acidosis.

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is associated with a large group of disorders that interfere with normal tubular hydrogen-ion handling by any of several mechanisms. This review presents an approach to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy of RTA by defining three major subgroups: proximal RTA, distal RTA presenting with normal or decreased serum potassium (hypokalemic distal RTA), and distal RTA presenting with increased serum potassium (hyperkalemic distal RTA).