STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF ELECTROLYTES IN PULMONARY CIRCULATION

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CO₂ PRESSURE IN BLOOD

Abstract

By using right heart catheterization, electrolytes concentrations in arterial and mixed venous plasma were measured on 43 cases in steady state. Bicarbonate ion concentration in mixed venous plasma was slightly higher than in arterial, but in other electrolytes no significant difference was found between arterial and mixed venous plasma.
In groups with markedly larger Pco₂ or pH difference between arterial and mixed venous blood (ΔPco₂ or ΔpH) than normal, sodium concentration in mixed venous plasma was statistically higher than in arterial.
When the venous blood was saturated with O₂ in vitro, decrease in Pco₂ and increase in pH were so great, but in electrolytes concentrations no significant change except chloride shift was noticed.
In 10 cases with ch onic pulmonary emphysema, when hyperventilated with IPPB/I artificially, ΔPco₂ and ΔpH increased markedly, and sodium concentration in arterial plasma became lower than mixed venous.
From these results concerning ΔPco₂ or ΔpH and sodium concentration difference, I have presented a hypothesis stating buffer action of erythrocyte when pulmonary circulation is in abnormal state.