Renal tubular acidosis.

The clinical features and biochemical profile of 10 patients with Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA) were described. The commonest mode of presentation was muscular weakness due to severe hypokalaemia in 5 patients while the other 5 presented with renal colic, haematuria or passage of gravel. Nine patients had nephrocalcinosis on X-rays and one had rickets. All the patients had Type I RTA, 2 of whom presenting initially with Incomplete Type I RTA which progressed to Complete Type I RTA. Two other patients had associated features of proximal tubular involvement evidenced by hypophosphatemia, hypouricemia, hyperphosphaturia, aminoaciduria and glycosuria. Six of the 10 patients had secondary RTA: 2 associated with medullary sponge kidneys, 2 with gout, 1 with idiopathic hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria and the remaining patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.