Revista clínica española
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Revista clínica española · Apr 1997
Comparative Study[Efficacy of acetazolamide treatment of patients with hypercapnia and superimposed metabolic alkalosis].
Metabolic alkalosis usually complicates the evolution of patients with hypercapnia under diuretic or steroid therapy. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficiency of therapy with acetazolamide, a reversible carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, in this condition. ⋯ Acetazolamide is an efficient alternative for treatment of patients with respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis, particularly when other more common measures in this condition (discontinuation of diuretics and/or volemic replacement) have failed or are contraindicated. On the other hand, the emergence of relevant secondary effects is unlikely.