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RTA full form is Renal Tubular Acidosis, a medical problem that affects acid accumulation in the body due to the inability of the kidneys to properly acidify urine. As the kidney drains blood, the filtrate passes through the tubules of the nephron. This exchanges salt, acid equivalents, and other solutes before they drain as urine into the bladder.
The metabolic acidosis that occurs from RTA may trigger in the early part of the nephron, the proximal tubule. This can happen due to failure to reabsorb enough bicarbonate ions or by inadequate secretion of acidic hydrogen ions into the latter parts of the distal tubule.
Key points about RTA
- Metabolic acidosis arises among people with renal insufficiency (weak urinary acidification in otherwise excellently functioning kidneys).
- Different types of RTA have different syndromes and reasons.
- Acidosis is the tendency of RTA that produces an accumulation of acid, which decreases blood pH.
- Blood pH below average (7.35) causes acidemia.
- Metabolic acidosis induced by RTA is known as common anion gap acidosis.