Abstract

Low serum bicarbonate, with or without an elevated anion gap, can indicate metabolic acidosis. High anion gap metabolic acidosis is due to the unmeasured anions. Hypertriglyceridemia can also be associated with spuriously low serum bicarbonate levels due to lab interference. We present a 44-year-old woman who presented with anion gap metabolic acidosis in the presence of severe hypertriglyceridemia.

Keywords

Hypertriglyceridemia; Acid-base disorders; Low serum bicarbonate; Metabolic acidosis.