Which of the following indicates a lab value related to metabolic acidosis?

Metabolic acidosis is a condition characterized by an accumulation of acid in the body or a loss of bicarbonate, leading to a decrease in blood pH. One of the lab values that can indicate metabolic acidosis is a high chloride level, also known as hyperchloremia. This is particularly relevant in conditions such as normal anion gap metabolic acidosis, where the increase in chloride compensates for a decrease in bicarbonate, maintaining electrical neutrality.

High chloride levels suggest that there may be an underlying process contributing to acidosis, such as renal tubular acidosis or diarrhea, where bicarbonate is lost from the body and chloride levels rise to balance the charge. Therefore, the indication of high chloride correlates well with the physiological changes occurring in metabolic acidosis.

In contrast, low sodium and increased creatinine do not serve as direct indicators of metabolic acidosis, and while elevated potassium can occur in various metabolic states, it is not solely indicative of metabolic acidosis. High potassium is often more associated with renal failure or tissue breakdown rather than being a definitive marker for metabolic acidosis alone.