RT Journal
A1 Reif S, Holzman M, Barak S, Spirer Z
T1 ABsence seizures associated with bicarbonate therapy and normal serum ph
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1989
FD September 8
VO 262
IS 10
SP 1328
OP 1329
DO 10.1001/jama.1989.03430100062022
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03430100062022
AB To the Editor.— 
    Renal tubular acidosis is known to cause failure to thrive.1,2 We found that treating children with this condition by oral administration of sodium bicarbonate is both beneficial and benign.Report of a Case.— 
    A 2 1/2-year-old girl with failure to thrive and weight and height below the third percentile for her age was referred to our department. Extensive investigation revealed metabolic acidosis (pH, 7.3 to 7.33), with hypocarbonemia of 16 to 18 mEq/L and hyperchloremia of 116 to 117 mmol/L. After excluding other causes, a presumptive diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis was made and oral therapy with 4 mEq/kg per day of sodium bicarbonate was instituted. This raised her blood pH level to 7.41 to 7.43 and enabled the child to attain the 10th percentile of weight and height for her age.A month later, the child experienced four episodes of absencelike seizures. There was no