| Abstract: | The difference between the PCO2 of alkalinized urine and the PCO2 of blood has been proposed as an indirect means of assessing distal nephron H+ secretion. Following oral bicarbonate loading and alkalinization of the urine to pH greater than or equal to 7.2, eight of nine children with chronic hydronephrosis and four children with idiopathic distal RTA had low (U-B)PCO2 values when compared with seven normal subjects. This findings leads us to conclude that chronic hydronephrosis may cause a form of distal RTA which persists many years after surgical diversion procedures have been carried out. |
