Urinary acidification and distal renal tubular acidosis.

Historically, renal tubular acidosis (RTA) has been classified on a clinical basis, without any reference to the underlying disorder. Here we review the normal mechanisms of renal acidification and we identify disorders of specific transporters (genetic, disease-related or drug-induced) that lead to the main categories of distal RTA. We also describe the approach to diagnosis and the current treatment of distal RTA.