Renal tubular acidosis.

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is recognized to occur in several forms. Primary proximal RTA presents in infancy, almost exclusively in males, and is the only form of primary RTA that is transient. Distal RTA is encountered in familial and sporadic forms, the latter predominantly in females. A severe form of distal RTA in infancy, recently recognized, may represent still another type of the disease.