“…In three studies [3,7,8], the metabolic acidosis was thought to be of proximal origin, on the basis of a subnormal bicarbonate threshold [7,8] or a subnormal capacity of HCO3 reabsorption [3]. In the case reported by Brautbar et al [2], the metabolic acidosis, which dis appeared after correction of hyperkalemia by cation ex change resin, was considered to be due to the decline in renal ammonia production as in type IV renal tubular acidosis [10,11], In 2 other cases [5,6], metabolic acido sis and hyperkalemia were attributed to a subnormal aldosterone secretion, secondary to chronic extracellular volume expansion, on the basis that metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia disappeared after sustained dietary so dium restriction [5], Recent findings, however, suggest that the primary abnormality of this syndrome would be a chloride shunt in the distal nephron which would diminish the lumen-negative transtubular electrical po tential difference and thereby reduce the electrical driving force for K secretion [12], In this event, metabolic acido sis was mainly attributed to a reduction in II secretion in the distal nephron secondary to the chloride shunt [12], The diminution of transtubular potential difference re sulting from the chloride shunt would be responsible for the subnormal rate of H secretion in the distal nephron [12,13],…”