The time dependent effects of intravenous administration of isotonic sodium bicarbonate on venous acid-base status and renal function in neonatal calves with acute diarrhea

This study investigates time-dependent effects of intravenous administration of isotonic sodium bicarbonate on venous acid-base status and renal function in neonatal calves with acute diarrhea. The material consists of 10 neonatal calves (1-30 days old) with different races and genders which were accepted to the clinic with complaints of acute diarrhea and then diagnosed with simple primary metabolic acidosis. The etiologic diagnosis was not taken into consideration in this study. Following the intravenous administration of calculated total sodium bicarbonate on the calves in the form of isotonic solution blood samples were collected pre- treatment (0 hour) and post-treatment: 15 min, 30 min, 1 hrs, 2 hrs, 3 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs later. Venous blood samples were analyzed to measure pH, partial carbon dioxide pressure, total carbon dioxide concentration, basicity, bicarbonate, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, and lactate levels. Serum samples were analyzed to measure urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, total protein, albumin, and glucose concentrations. And finally, full blood samples were analyzed to count leukocytes, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet. Based on the intra-group assessments at different measurement times, the study results revealed a statistically significant difference in pH, bicarbonate, basicity, partial carbon dioxide pressure, total carbon dioxide concentration, potassium and aspartate amino transferase blood levels of the calves with diarrhea. No statistical difference was found in alanine amino transferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, lactate, total protein, albumin, creatine kinase, leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, lymphocytes, granulocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit blood concentrations. A numerical decrease was determined in the post-treatment period despite the absence of a significant difference in serum concentrations of urea and creatinine as shown by the intra-group statistical assessments conducted in line with measurement times. A significant difference of p <0.05 was noticed when 0 and 24 hour measurement values were compared for both parameters. The obtained data revealed that primary simple metabolic acidosis occurring in calves in relation to acute diarrhea can be treated successfully with the administration of intravenous isotonic sodium bicarbonate. According to the results, renal function deterioration should be considered along with the metabolic acidosis during the determination of treatment protocol and prognosis. The submitted study emphasizes the importance of hours 12 and 24 post-treatment for blood acid-basis status and renal function, respectively.