What is high anion gap metabolic acidosis?

Metabolic acidosis: A high anion gap acidosis, (h), is an acidosis with a low carbon dioxide (c) and a normal chloride. This low c indicates the presence of an organic acid, such as lactic acid. H is seen in sepsis and diabetic ketoacidosis, among other conditions. It is a serious condition that requires immediate medical therapy to resolve it, as it is often life-threatening.