The Osmolal Gap in Renal Failure
Authors: ALLAN H. SKLAR
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1983)

Brief Reports1 April 1983The Osmolal Gap in Renal FailureALLAN H. SKLAR, M.D., STUART L. LINAS, M.D.ALLAN H. SKLAR, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, STUART L. LINAS, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-98-4-481 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe osmolal gap may be defined as the difference between the calculated and measured serum osmolalities. The calculated component of this entity may be derived from the following formula (1): Serum osmolality (mosmol/kg H2O) = 1. 86 Na + [glucose/18] + [blood urea nitrogen/2.8] + 9. (In the absence of substantial increases in serum lipids or proteins, mosmol/L and mosmol/kg H2O may be used interchangeably.)By using this equation, Dorwart and Chalmers (1) were able to match the calculated and measured serum osmolalities in 715 blood samples drawn from healthy persons. Thus, the constant term, 9 mosmol/kg H2O, quantitates the...References1. DORWARTCHALMERS WL. Comparison of methods for calculating serum osmolality from chemical concentrations, and the prognostic value of such calculations. Clin Chem. 1975;21:190-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. SMITHLINEGARDNER NK. Gaps—anionic and osmolal. JAMA. 1976;236:1594-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. BOYDFOLKCONDONNEYHUSBAKER DFRLR. Predictive value of serum osmolality in shock following major trauma. Surg Forum. 1970;21:32-3. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. SCHREINERMAHER GJ. Uremia. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas; 1961:196. Google Scholar5. ROMPHPEARSONDANNA PJV. Validation of ion selective electrodes (ISE) for serum Na and K in a tertiary care hospital [Abstract]. Clin Chem. 1981;27:1110. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. 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