Studies of alkalosis; renal function during and following alkalosis resulting from pyloric obstruction.

The combination of alkalosis and renal insufficiency has been reported repeatedly (1-15). The causes of the failure of kidney function, and the nature of the renal lesion have not been defined clearly. The evidence suggests that normal kidneys may suffer considerable functional impairment as a result of alkalosis, and subsequently undergo complete restitution. To the authors' knowledge normal renal function has never been demonstrated in any patient prior to the observation of persistently reduced kidney function after alkalosis. This report describes renal function measurements in five patients who had alkalosis resulting primarily from loss of gastric contents and varying degrees of renal impairment. The data indicate in each instance that there was a partially to completely reversible type of renal failure with certain common characteristics. As with other reports, in no instance where renal function has not returned to normal can it positively be stated that the kidneys were normal prior to the time of first observation when renal failure was already present.