Barron/Elsevier Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Test 2026 - Free CCRN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Aspirin toxicity, also known as salicylate toxicity, often presents with a combination of respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis due to the effects of aspirin on the body.

When aspirin is ingested in toxic amounts, it begins to stimulate the respiratory center in the brain, leading to hyperventilation. This increase in respiration causes a decrease in carbon dioxide levels (hypocapnia), which results in respiratory alkalosis. At the same time, aspirin has direct effects on cellular metabolism, leading to an increase in lactic acid production and uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. This results in an accumulation of acids in the body, hence causing metabolic acidosis.

The presence of both these acid-base disturbances—respiratory alkalosis from hyperventilation and metabolic acidosis from increased acid levels—creates a characteristic pattern seen in aspirin toxicity. Recognizing this combination is essential for prompt diagnosis and management in critical care settings.