Which of the following would be found in a stable patient with long-standing obstructive lung disease?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In patients with long-standing obstructive lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is typically a retention of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to poor gas exchange in the lungs. The body compensates for this respiratory acidosis by retaining bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the kidneys, leading to a high bicarbonate level. Therefore, a stable patient with long-standing obstructive lung disease would typically have both high bicarbonate levels and high carbon dioxide levels, reflecting the body's compensatory mechanism to maintain a relatively normal pH.

Which of the Following Would Be Found in a Stable