In physiology, base excess and base deficitrefer to an excess or deficit, respectively, in the amount of base present in the blood. The value is usually reported as a concentration in units of mEq/L, with positive numbers indicating an excess of base and negative a deficit. A typical reference range for base excess is −2 to +2 mEq/L. Comparison of the base excess with the reference range assists in determining whether an acid/base disturbance is caused by a respiratory, metabolic, or mixed metabolic/respiratory problem. While carbon dioxide defines the respiratory component of acid-base balance, base excess defines the metabolic component. Accordingly, measurement of base excess is defined, under a standardized pressure of carbon dioxide, by titrating back to a standardized blood pH of 7.40. The predominant base contributing to base excess is bicarbonate. Thus, a deviation of serum bicarbonate from the reference range is ordinarily mirrored by a deviation in base excess. However, base excess is a more comprehensive measurement, encompassing all metabolic contributions.
Definition
Base excess is defined as the amount of strong acid that must be added to each liter of fully oxygenated blood to return the pH to 7.40 at a temperature of 37°C and a pCO2 of. A base deficit can be correspondingly defined in terms of the amount of strong base that must be added. A further distinction can be made between actual and standard base excess: actual base excess is that present in the blood, while standard base excess is the value when the hemoglobin is at 5 g/dl. The latter gives a better view of the base excess of the entire extracellular fluid. Base excess is one of several values typically reported with arterial blood gas analysis that is derived from other measured data. The term and concept of base excess were first introduced by Poul Astrup and Ole Siggaard-Andersen in 1958.
Estimation
Base excess can be estimated from the bicarbonate concentration and pH by the equation: with units of mEq/L. The same can be alternatively expressed as ---- Calculations are based on the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: Ultimately the end result is:
Blood pH is determined by both a metabolic component, measured by base excess, and a respiratory component, measured by PaCO2. Often a disturbance in one triggers a partial compensation in the other. A secondary process can be readily identified because it opposes the observed deviation in blood pH. For example, inadequate ventilation, a respiratory problem, causes a buildup of CO2, hence respiratory acidosis; the kidneys then attempt to compensate for the low pH by raising blood bicarbonate. The kidneys only partially compensate, so the patient may still have a low blood pH, i.e. acidosis. In summary, the kidneys partially compensate for respiratory acidosis by raising blood bicarbonate. A high base excess, thus metabolic alkalosis, usually involves an excess of bicarbonate. It can be caused by
A base deficit, thus metabolic acidosis, usually involves either excretion of bicarbonate or neutralization of bicarbonate by excess organic acids. Common causes include
The serum anion gap is useful for determining whether a base deficit is caused by addition of acid or loss of bicarbonate.
Base deficit with elevated anion gap indicates addition of acid.
Base deficit with normal anion gap indicates loss of bicarbonate. The anion gap is maintained because bicarbonate is exchanged for chloride during excretion.
