Medical Mnemonics: Causes of Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis – “GOLD MARK”

Medical Mnemonics – Anion Gap Acidosis – “GOLD MARK”

The classic mnemonic often used to remember the causes of anion gap metabolic acidosis is “MUDPILES”

• M – Methanol
• U – Uremia
• D – Diabetic ketoacidosis
• P – Propylene Glycol
• I – Isoniazid
• L – Lactic Acidosis
• E – Ethylene Glycol
• S – Salicylates

More recently a new mnemonic has been suggested to update new our understanding of anion-gap generating acids. The updated mnemonic “GOLD MARK” was proposed in a 2008 article in The Lancet.

• G – Glycols (ethylene glycol and propylene glycol)
• O – Oxoproline
• L – L-Lactate
• D – D-Lactate
• M – Methanol
• A – Aspirin
• R – Renal Failure
• K – Ketoacidosis

As medicine evolves, so do our Mnemonics. This is the fifth medical mnemonic in our series of Monday Mnemonics.