Hypochloremia (or Hypochloraemia) is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally low level of the

chloride The chloride ion is the anion (negatively charged ion) Cl−. It is formed when the element chlorine (a halogen) gains an electron or when a compound such as hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water or other polar solvents. Chloride s ...

ion in the

blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the cir ...

. The normal serum range for chloride is 97 to 107 mEq/L. It rarely occurs in the absence of other abnormalities. It is sometimes associated with

hypoventilation Hypoventilation (also known as respiratory depression) occurs when ventilation is inadequate (''hypo'' meaning "below") to perform needed respiratory gas exchange. By definition it causes an increased concentration of carbon dioxide (hypercapni ...

. It can be associated with chronic

respiratory acidosis Respiratory acidosis is a state in which decreased ventilation ( hypoventilation) increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and decreases the blood's pH (a condition generally called acidosis). Carbon dioxide is produced contin ...

. If it occurs together with

metabolic alkalosis Metabolic alkalosis is a metabolic condition in which the pH of tissue is elevated beyond the normal range (7.35–7.45). This is the result of decreased hydrogen ion concentration, leading to increased bicarbonate, or alternatively a direct resu ...

(decreased blood acidity) it is often due to

vomiting Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenter ...

. It is usually the result of

hyponatremia Hyponatremia or hyponatraemia is a low concentration of sodium in the blood. It is generally defined as a sodium concentration of less than 135 mmol/L (135 mEq/L), with severe hyponatremia being below 120 mEq/L. Symptoms can be a ...

or elevated bicarbonate concentration. It occurs in cystic fibrosis.

References

External links

Electrolyte disturbances {{treatment-stub