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CO2 Content

CO2 Content is a measurement of all the CO2 in the blood.

Most of this is in the form of bicarbonate (HCO3), controlled by the kidney. A small amount (5%) of the CO2 is dissolved in the blood, and in the form of soluble carbonic acid (H2CO3).

For this reason, changes in CO2 content generally reflect such metabolic issues as renal function and unusual losses (diarrhea). Respiratory disease can ultimately effect CO2 content, but only slightly and only if prolonged.

Elevated CO2 levels are seen in:

Severe vomiting
Use of mercurial diuretics
COPD
Aldosteronism

Decreased CO2 levels are seen in:

Renal failure or dysfunction
Severe diarrhea
Starvation
Diabetic Acidosis
Chlorthiazide diuretic use

Normal Values*

Men	23-30 mmol/L
Women	21-30 mmol/L
Pregnancy	18-25 mmol/L

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.

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Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
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Washington, D.C
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Operational Medicine
Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
January 1, 2001

United States Special Operations Command
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MacDill AFB, Florida
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*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division. It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

Operational Medicine 2001
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