RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ Causes: þ Salicylate overdose, especially in children (mixed with anion-gap metabolic acidosis, which predominates in later stages). þ Cirrhosis ( progesterone in blood?) and liver failure ( Amines in blood?) þ Early stages of sepsis. þ Psychogenic hyperventilation. þ Pregnancy ( progesterone). þ Pontine lesions. þ Acute hypoxia (e.g., PE) Will  HCO3- slightly due to conversion to CO2. Will have shift from pyruvate to lactate in blood, causing mild  anion gap compensatory acidosis. Ususally compensates totally over 2-3 days. May cause asymptomatic  PO4.