The Effect of Variations in Blood pH upon the Electrocardiogram in Man

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Abstract
In this series of patients who were subjected to short periods (5.5 to 16.5 minutes) of acute acidosis and alkalosis no electrocardiographic alterations of note could be ascribed to changes in pH. The range of pH achieved (7.30 to 7.64) is well within that seen in medical conditions that alter pH, such as diabetic acidosis, uremia, and hyperventilation. Furthermore, these changes in pH are sufficient to cause hemodynamic alterations. Hence it can be concluded that in the usual states of acidosis and alkalosis seen clinically in man, any electrocardiographic abnormalities that appear are not related directly to the immediate variations in hydrogen ion concentration. It may well be that more marked shifts in pH or a longer period of sustained acidosis or alkalosis will yield different results.