Veterinary Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis-II

KETO ACIDOSIS

• Ketoacidosis is a metabolic acidosis due to an excessive blood concentration of ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate).
• Ketone bodies are released into the blood from the liver when hepatic lipid metabolism has changed to a state of increased ketogenesis.
• The abnormal accumulation of ketones in the body occurs due to excessive breakdown of fats  indeficiency or inadequate use of carbohydrates.
• It is characterized by ketonuria, loss of potassium in the urine, and a fruity odor of acetone on the breath.
• Untreated, ketosis may progress to ketoacidosis, coma, and death.
• This condition is seen in starvation, occasionally in pregnancy if the intake of protein and carbohydrates is inadequate, and most frequently in diabetes mellitus.

Different Types of Ketoacidosis

• Diabetes Keto Acidosis (DKA)

             Due to lack of insulin glucose uptake and metabolism by cells is decrased.Fatty acid catabolism increased in resulting in excess production of ketone bodies.

• Starvation Ketosis

                Starvation leads to hypoglycemia as there is little or no absorption of glucose from intestine and also due to depletion of liver glycogen.In Fatty acid oxidation leads to excess ketone body.