Renal Tubular Acidosis Treatments

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) occurs when the kidney tubules fail to adequately remove acids from the blood in order to excrete them in the urine. RTA may lead to an imbalance of potassium levels in the blood, calcium deposits in the kidneys that cause kidney stones and dehydration. It is also possible to develop a painful softening and bending of the bones, also known as rickets. RTA may be a permanent, genetic disorder. RTA can also be a treatable intermittent problem resulting from other disorders or, it may be brought on by an obstruction of the urinary tract. Treatment depends upon the type of RTA that the patient is diagnosed with.

Diagnosis

• Type 1 and 2 renal tubular acidosis is diagnosed by symptoms such as muscle weakness and diminishing reflexes in addition to blood tests that reveal high levels of acid and low levels of potassium and bicarbonate. When high potassium levels occur with high acid levels and low bicarbonate levels, type 4 renal tubular acidosis is usually expected. Type 3 is considered to be a very rare mixture of types 1 and 2 and is treated by a special combination of type 1 and 2 treatments. There are special tests used to determine the specific type of RTA.

RTA Type 1 Treatment

• Type 1 renal tubular acidosis can cause extreme weakness, paralysis and irregular heartbeat. Untreated RTA causes kidney and bone diseases in adults as well as growth retardation in children. An alkali therapy consisting of sodium citrate or sodium bicarbonate is given to correct calcium leakage and low blood potassium levels. Infants may require additional potassium supplements.

RTA Type 2 Treatment

• Treating children with type 2 renal tubular acidosis requires large doses of an oral alkali. The alkali used to treat type 2 RTA typically consists of potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate in order to prevent growth failure, bone disorders and kidney stones. Adults also take an alkali solution in smaller quantities to treat type 2 RTA. Vitamin D supplements may also be added to the treatment in order to prevent bone problems.

RTA Type 4 Treatment

• Type 4 renal tubular acidosis is generally mild enough that a sodium bicarbonate solution may not be needed. In the case of a type 4 RTA diagnosis, high potassium levels of the blood are typically regulated by reducing potassium intake, avoiding dehydration and adjusting or substituting drug dosages if the RTA is a drug induced.

Research

• Studies are continually being conducted by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to find more effective treatments for renal tubular acidosis. Participation in a clinical health trial can help patients obtain access to new research treatments before they are widely available. Often participation in trials allows patients access to new, free treatments in addition to helping others by their contribution to medical research.