How, exactly, does alkalosis trigger syncope?
I am trying to find out for which mechanisms respiratory alkalosis can cause syncope, but I just found that there is a relation...but how does it occur exactly?
probably due to reduced cerebral blood flow which depends on Pco2. If Pco2 is low cerebral blood fow is low hence cerebral hypoxia.
Dear James, thank you!
"CO2 serves as one of the fundamental regulators of cerebral blood flow (CBF). It is widely considered that this regulation occurs through pCO2-driven changes in pH of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), with elevated and lowered pH causing direct relaxation and contraction of the smooth muscle, respectively."
Luis,
Most cases of respiratory alkalosis are acute in nature due to alveolar hyperventilation. Causes may include pain, or anxiety, neurological disorders (meningitis, trauma), drugs (salicylates), fever or gram negative bacteremia, thyrotoxicosis or hypoxemia. Acute hypocapnia can cause an intracellular uptake of potassium and phosphates and increased binding of calcium to albumin leading to symptomatic hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia and hypocalcemia resulting in arrhythmias, paresthesia and muscle cramps and seizures. Arrhythmias results in syncope.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Correction