Osmolal Gap

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Reference-interval 2 Principle 3 Clinical-significance 4 Increases 5 More General Terms

Reference-interval

• < 10 mOsm/L

Principle

• calculated serum osmolality is given by the formula:
  

• 2[Na+] + glucose ( mg/dL)/18 + BUN ( mg/dL)/2.8 + BAL* ( mg/dL)/4.6
  
• * BAL = blood alcohol level
  

• the osmolal gap is the difference between the measured vs calculated osmolality
• it is important to obtain [Na+], [[[Glucose | glucose]]] & [[[Urea_In_Serum | BUN]]] on the same specimen as the measured osmolality measured vs the calculated osmolality

Clinical-significance

• an increased osmolal gap may indicate a toxin
• a normal osmolal gap, however does not rule out the above toxins

Increases

• ethanol
• ethylene glycol
• isopropanol
• methanol
• propylene glycol
• glycerol
• mannitol
• sorbitol
• acetone
• diatrizoate

More General Terms

• serum osmolality

osmolal gap