What does the term "bicarbonate therapy" imply in clinical chemistry?

Bicarbonate therapy refers to the clinical use of bicarbonate, a key component of the body's acid-base balance, specifically to treat metabolic acidosis. In metabolic acidosis, the body produces excessive acid or the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body, leading to a decrease in pH and bicarbonate levels in the bloodstream. Administration of bicarbonate helps to buffer the excess acids in the blood, raising the pH back toward normal and correcting the metabolic imbalance.

In cases of severe metabolic acidosis, such as that seen in conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis or chronic kidney disease, bicarbonate therapy can be an essential treatment to help stabilize the patient's condition. This therapy works by providing the bicarbonate anions that can neutralize excess hydrogen ions in the blood, ultimately improving the acid-base status and assisting in the alleviation of symptoms associated with severe acidosis.

Other conditions, such as respiratory alkalosis or dietary supplementation, do not fall under the definition and application of bicarbonate therapy in clinical practice. Similarly, while acute kidney injury may involve alterations in bicarbonate levels, the specific intervention of bicarbonate therapy is not directed at managing kidney injury itself.