• Renal tubular acidosis occurs when the kidney does not adequately reabsorb bicarbonate.
• Bicarbonate loss from the kidney causes an acidosis.
• The acidosis can be more severe in a distal renal tubular acidosis.
• Proximal renal tubular acidosis is associated with other tubular disorders
• Distal renal tubular acidosis is associated with multi system disorders.
• Hypoaldosteronism can cause a renal tubular acidosis because distal tubule hydrogen ion secretion is reduced.

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C. A. O'Callaghan 2004