Analysis of acid-base disorders in calves with lactic acidosis using a classic model and strong ion approach

The objective of this study was to analyze the disorders of acid base balance in calves with lactic acidosis using the classic model and the strong ion approach. The study included 40 calves: group I was the control group (n = 20) and group II consisted of calves with diarrhea and lactic acidosis (n = 20). The highest lactate concentration (5.49 +/- 2.58 mmol/L) was documented in diarrheic calves. The diarrheic calves presented with significantly lower pH, pCO(2), and concentrations of HCO3- (P < 0.01), and with higher anion gap (AG), strong ion difference (SID3, SID7), and strong ion gap (SIG) (P < 0.01) than the controls. In the group of diarrheic calves lactic acid correlated with AG (r = 0.684, P < 0.01), SID3 (r = 0.718, P < 0.01), SID7 (r = 0.494, P = 0.03), and SIG (r = 0.561, P = 0.01). There was a negative correlation between lactate and effective SID (SIDEff) (r = 0.499, P = 0.02), and total plasma concentration of nonvolatile buffers (A(Tot)) (r = 0.361, P = 0.04). The results indicated that in lactic acidosis there were specific disturbances with an increased concentration of unmeasured strong ions.