Hypoxia and Medicine

Why do carbon dioxide levels often remain normal In disease when VA / Q mismatch leads to hypoxaemia?

Public Comments

1. http://www.indiachest.org/pdf_files/April2006.pdf http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1994.htm http://connectiondev.lww.com/Products/schwartzstein/documents/PDF/ch2.pdf
2. I think it's because your body compensates for the hypoxemia by hyperventilating and thus blowing off any excess co2. Accumulation of co2 is worrisome because it signals this ventilatory effort is inadequate and may be a sign of impending respiratory failure.