х
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Causes of low chlorine (hypochloremia)
Medical expert of the article
Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
The following diseases and conditions can cause hypochloremia (low chlorine in the blood).
- Increased release of chlorine with sweat in hot climates, during feverish conditions accompanied by profuse sweating.
- Increased excretion of chlorine in feces during diarrhea.
- Repeated vomiting due to duodenal ulcer, high intestinal obstruction, pyloric stenosis. In these cases, both the decrease in chlorine intake and its release with gastric juice in vomit play a role.
- Chronic and acute renal failure, as well as kidney diseases with severe nephrotic syndrome, due to impaired ability of the tubules to reabsorb chlorine.
- Lobar pneumonia at the height of the disease and some other infectious diseases.
- Uncontrolled diuretic therapy (combined with hyponatremia).
- Hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.
- Conditions after various surgical operations, if they are accompanied by postoperative acidosis, in which the content of carbon dioxide in the plasma increases and chlorine passes into the erythrocytes.
- Diabetic acidosis, which is usually accompanied by the transfer of chlorine from the blood into the tissues.
- Renal diabetes, due to large loss of chlorine in the urine.
- Diseases of the adrenal glands with impaired formation of mineralocorticoids.