Chloride

Background

• Major extracellular anion; follows sodium in most clinical contexts

Normal Values

• Normal: 96-106 mEq/L

Interpretation

• Elevated chloride (hyperchloremia) most commonly from normal saline administration or non-anion gap metabolic acidosis (e.g., RTA, diarrhea)
• Low chloride (hypochloremia) seen with vomiting, NG suction, diuretic use
• Useful in calculating the anion gap: AG = Na - (Cl + HCO3)
• A chloride-responsive metabolic alkalosis (urine Cl <20 mEq/L) responds to volume resuscitation with normal saline

See Also

• BMP
• Anion gap
• Metabolic acidosis
• Metabolic alkalosis