Methods – Traditional approach (bicarbonate-base approach and its modification using base excess, BE), and Stewart approach (strong ion difference, SID; total weak acids, ATOT; strong ion gap, SIG) were used to assess the metabolic and respiratory status, in order to identify ABDs. Descriptive Statistics and Spearman correlation were performed (P ≤ 0.05).
Results – Traditional approach identified high anion gap metabolic acidosis in 10/54 (18.5 %), hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis in 1/54 (1.8 %), and metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation in 1/54 (1.8 %) of cats with CKD. Stewart approach identified metabolic acidosis in 26/54 (48 %) and metabolic alkalosis in 5/54 (9 %) based on SID changes; metabolic acidosis based on ATOT abnormalities was found in 2/54 (3.7%). Both approaches concomitantly detected the presence of metabolic acidosis in 7/54 (13%) and metabolic alkalosis in 1/54 (1.8 %) of the cases. Anion gap and SIG were positively correlated (rho= 0.58; P< 0.0001).
Conclusions and clinical importance – Stewart approach indicated the occurrence of ABDs more frequently than the Traditional approach. However, it remains to be determined whether it could be relevant to guide clinical decisions.
