[citation needed] Because renal excretion is the primary means of eliminating acid from the body, there is consequently a tendency towards acidemia.

[citation needed] dRTA commonly leads to sodium loss and volume contraction, which causes a compensatory increase in blood levels of aldosterone.

[14] The diagnosis of dRTA can be made by the observation of a relatively alkaline urinary pH of greater than 5.3 in the face of a systemic acidemia (usually taken to be a serum bicarbonate of 20 mmol/L or less).

[16] dRTA has been proposed as a possible diagnosis for the unknown malady plaguing Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

[19] Potassium citrate/potassium hydrogen carbonate, sold under the brand name Sibnayal, is a fixed-dose combination medication intended for the treatment of distal renal tubular acidosis.