Ketoacidosis | |
---|---|
Ketone bodies | |
Specialty | Endocrinology |
Symptoms | nausea, vomiting, pain, weakness, unusual breath odor, rapid breathing |
Causes | medications, alcoholic beverages |
Ketoacidosis is a metabolic state caused by uncontrolled production of ketone bodies that cause a metabolic acidosis. While ketosis refers to any elevation of blood ketones, ketoacidosis is a specific pathologic condition that results in changes in blood pH and requires medical attention. The most common cause of ketoacidosis is diabetic ketoacidosis but it can also be caused by alcohol, medications, toxins, and rarely, starvation.[citation needed]