Which of these conditions can lead to metabolic alkalosis?

Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by an increase in blood pH due to a primary increase in bicarbonate levels or a loss of hydrogen ions. Diuretic therapy is known to cause metabolic alkalosis, particularly when loop diuretics or thiazide diuretics are used. These medications promote increased renal excretion of sodium and water, and with this, they can also lead to a loss of potassium and hydrogen ions. This loss contributes to a relative increase in bicarbonate concentration in the blood, thereby causing or exacerbating metabolic alkalosis.

In contrast, conditions such as sepsis typically lead to metabolic acidosis due to tissue hypoperfusion and lactic acid accumulation. Renal tubular acidosis can also result in acidosis rather than alkalosis, as it involves the kidneys’ inability to adequately excrete hydrogen ions or reabsorb bicarbonate. Hypoxia primarily leads to lactic acid formation as well, resulting in metabolic acidosis rather than alkalosis. Therefore, diuretic therapy is the condition among the options listed that is directly associated with the development of metabolic alkalosis.