Abstract
A 37 year old man was admitted to our hospital on January 10th, 1992, because of nausea, vomiting and body weight loss.He was obese but otherwise well until December, 1991, when he developed thirst, polydipsia and polyuria.Nausea and vomiting appeared after the development of gingivitis.Over eating and excessive alcohol intake resulted in severe anorexia and body weight loss.On admission he was alert although laboratory findings revealed 635mg/dl of blood glucose and 9700μmol/l of 3 beta hydroxybutyrate.Marked hypochloremia of 77mEq/l was also present and the arterial blood gas revealed an alkaline pH of 7.571, PaCO2 of 14.1mmHg and bicarbonate of 13.0mmol/l.Taken together, these data indicated that he was in a state of hypochloremic alkalosis and diabetic ketoacidosis compensated for by hyperventilation. Such cases are rare and interesting from the viewpoint of acid base equilibrium.
