PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Karet, Fiona E. TI - Mechanisms in Hyperkalemic Renal Tubular Acidosis AID - 10.1681/ASN.2008020166 DP - 2009 Feb 01 TA - Journal of the American Society of Nephrology PG - 251--254 VI - 20 IP - 2 4099 - http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/20/2/251.short 4100 - http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/20/2/251.full SO - J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.2009 Feb 01; 20 AB - The form of renal tubular acidosis associated with hyperkalemia is usually attributable to real or apparent hypoaldosteronism. It is therefore a common feature in diabetes and a number of other conditions associated with underproduction of renin or aldosterone. In addition, the close relationship between potassium levels and ammonia production dictates that hyperkalemia per se can lead to acidosis. Here I describe the modern relationship between molecular function of the distal portion of the nephron, pathways of ammoniagenesis, and hyperkalemia.