Chloride anions balance the ions of sodium (sodium chloride) and hydrogen (hydrochloric acid).
There are virtually no abnormalities in which chloride is directly elevated or diminished in the blood. Rather, observed changes in chloride reflect other abnormalities that have led to a change in measurable chloride anions.
Chloride levels may rise in the presence of:
Dehydration
Hyperventilation
Renal disease
Cushing's disease
Chloride levels may fall in the presence of:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Severe burns
Addison's disease
Some diuretics
Pregnancy
Normal Values*
Men
98–106 mmol/L
Women
98–106 mmol/L
Pregnancy
93–100 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.
