Systemic hydrogen ion concentration (pH) (pH)

Systemic hydrogen ion concentration, commonly expressed as blood pH, is a fundamental physiological parameter that must be strictly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45 to maintain homeostasis (StatPearls, 2023). It is considered a therapeutic target in clinical medicine, particularly in the management of acid-base disturbances such as metabolic acidosis or alkalosis (NIH, 2023). Hydrogen ions influence nearly all biological processes, including enzyme kinetics, protein folding, and the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen via the Bohr effect (StatPearls, 2023). In pathological states like diabetic ketoacidosis or sepsis, the accumulation of hydrogen ions can lead to life-threatening cardiovascular and neurological dysfunction (PubMed, 2022). Therapeutic interventions target this parameter through the administration of buffering agents like sodium bicarbonate or tromethamine, which directly neutralize excess protons (PubChem, 2024). Additionally, drugs may indirectly modulate pH by affecting the renal or respiratory systems' ability to handle bicarbonate and carbon dioxide (Merck Manual, 2023). Monitoring systemic pH via arterial blood gas analysis is a cornerstone of critical care and guides the titration of these pH-modifying therapies (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

Blood pHArterial pH[H+]Hydronium ion concentrationAcid-base status

Direct chemical buffering and neutralization of protons, modulation of the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system, and pharmacological alteration of renal bicarbonate reabsorption or excretion.