Secondary Response to Chronic Respiratory Acidosis in Humans: A Prospective Study

In steady-state chronic hypercapnia up to 70 mm Hg, the Δ[HCO3−]/ΔPaCO2 slope equaled 0.48 mEq/l per mm Hg, sufficient to maintain systemic acidity between the mid-normal range and mild acidemia. The estimated 95% prediction intervals enable differentiation between simple chronic respiratory acidosis and hypercapnia coexisting with additional acid−base disorders.