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Chloride - urine - Results

Alternative Names

Urinary chloride

Normal Values:

The normal range is 20 to 250 milliequivalents per day (mEq/day). This range depends greatly on your salt intake and how hydrated you are.

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What abnormal results mean:

Increased urine chloride levels may be caused by:

  • Adrenocortical insufficiency
  • Increased salt intake
  • Inflammation of the kidney that results in salt loss
  • Production of an unusually large amount of urine

Decreased urine chloride levels may be due to:

  • Cushing syndrome
  • Decreased salt intake
  • Fluid loss that occurs with diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, and gastric suction
  • Salt retention
  • Reviewed last on: 8/7/2009
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Fukagawa M, Kurokawa K, Papadakis MA. Fluid and electrolyte disorders. In: McPhee SJ, Papadakis MA, Tierney LM, Jr. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2007. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2007.

Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 115.

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