Acid-Base Disorders USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 58-year-old man with heart failure has been taking high doses of furosemide for several weeks. He comes to the clinic because of fatigue and muscle cramps. Laboratory studies show pH 7.50, HCO3ā 36 mEq/L, potassium 3.0 mEq/L, and urine chloride 8 mEq/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial therapy for this acid-base disorder?
Answer choices
- ANormal saline infusionCorrect answer
- BMechanical ventilation
- CHydrochloric acid infusion
- DAcetazolamide only
- ESodium bicarbonate infusion
- FPotassium chloride supplementation only
See the full explanation
Get the correct-answer rationale, why each distractor is wrong, the underlying mechanism, and high-yield associations ā plus adaptive practice that targets your weak areas ā with a free MedBoardPRO account.