What Is Lactic Acidosis?: Signs, Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
What is lactic acidosis? It is a condition where lactate builds up in the body which leads to extremely low pH levels in the blood. Normally, your blood is alkaline or slightly basic. Lactic acidosis occurs when your blood is much more acidic than usual. Changes in blood pH levels can adversely affect your body’s organs. Lactic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis characterized by excessive accumulation of acid as a result of the body failing to metabolize lactic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is a medical state that occurs when there is reduced systemic pH because of a decrease in bicarbonate or an increase in hydrogen ion concentration. Accumulation of lactic acids happens when there is inadequate oxygen in the muscles that is required to break down the glycogen and glucose for energy. In a normal body, lactate will exit muscle cells and travel to the liver, where it will be oxidized to pyruvate, and later converted to glucose. Glucose refers to a form of sugar which is one of the main sources of energy for the body. When there is reduced oxygen in the tissue, there will be a build up of lactic acid. This medical condition usually starts in the kidneys. Lactic acidosis normally occurs when the kidneys fail to excrete excess acids from the body. As a result, lactic acid accumulates in the body faster than it is removed. This build up of lactic acid leads to a pH imbalance in the body. There are two forms of lactic acid, that is D-lactate and L-lactate. D-lactate is a form produced in bacterial metabolism and may build up in patients who have had a gastric bypass or have short gut syndrome. On the other hand, L-lactic is produced from human metabolism. Both L-lactic and D-lactic are produced from pyruvate and metabolized to pyruvate by an enzyme known as lactate deh Continue reading >>
Lactic Acidosis And Exercise: What You Need To Know
Muscle ache, burning, rapid breathing, nausea, stomach pain: If you've experienced the unpleasant feeling of lactic acidosis, you likely remember it. It's temporary. It happens when too much acid builds up in your bloodstream. The most common reason it happens is intense exercise. Symptoms The symptoms may include a burning feeling in your muscles, cramps, nausea, weakness, and feeling exhausted. It's your body's way to tell you to stop what you're doing The symptoms happen in the moment. The soreness you sometimes feel in your muscles a day or two after an intense workout isn't from lactic acidosis. It's your muscles recovering from the workout you gave them. Intense Exercise. When you exercise, your body uses oxygen to break down glucose for energy. During intense exercise, there may not be enough oxygen available to complete the process, so a substance called lactate is made. Your body can convert this lactate to energy without using oxygen. But this lactate or lactic acid can build up in your bloodstream faster than you can burn it off. The point when lactic acid starts to build up is called the "lactate threshold." Some medical conditions can also bring on lactic acidosis, including: Vitamin B deficiency Shock Some drugs, including metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes, and all nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS can cause lactic acidosis. If you are on any of these medications and have any symptoms of lactic acidosis, get medical help immediately. Preventing Lactic Acidosis Begin any exercise routine gradually. Pace yourself. Don't go from being a couch potato to trying to run a marathon in a week. Start with an aerobic exercise like running or fast walking. You can build up your pace and distance slowly. Increase the Continue reading >>
Lactic Acidosis: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
Lactic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much lactic acid and cannot metabolize it quickly enough. The condition can be a medical emergency. The onset of lactic acidosis might be rapid and occur within minutes or hours, or gradual, happening over a period of days. The best way to treat lactic acidosis is to find out what has caused it. Untreated lactic acidosis can result in severe and life-threatening complications. In some instances, these can escalate rapidly. It is not necessarily a medical emergency when caused by over-exercising. The prognosis for lactic acidosis will depend on its underlying cause. A blood test is used to diagnose the condition. Lactic acidosis symptoms that may indicate a medical emergency include a rapid heart rate and disorientaiton. Typically, symptoms of lactic acidosis do not stand out as distinct on their own but can be indicative of a variety of health issues. However, some symptoms known to occur in lactic acidosis indicate a medical emergency. Lactic acidosis can occur in people whose kidneys are unable to get rid of excess acid. Even when not related to just a kidney condition, some people's bodies make too much lactic acid and are unable to balance it out. Diabetes increases the risk of developing lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis may develop in people with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus , especially if their diabetes is not well controlled. There have been reports of lactic acidosis in people who take metformin, which is a standard non-insulin medication for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the incidence is low, with equal to or less than 10 cases per 100,000 patient-years of using the drug, according to a 2014 report in the journal Metabolism. The incidence of lactic acidosis is higher in people with diabetes who Continue reading >>
Metformin And Lactic Acidosis
BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia, Volume 101, Issue 6, 1 December 2008, Pages 876877, V. Ashall, T. Dawes; Metformin and lactic acidosis, BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia, Volume 101, Issue 6, 1 December 2008, Pages 876877, EditorWe would like to report a case of a known but rare complication of metformin. A 46-yr-old Caucasian female with schizophrenia was admitted from the mental health unit to the emergency department with a 2 day history of vomiting and abdominal pain. The nursing staff on the psychiatric ward reported she had not been eating or drinking properly for the past few days. She had a past medical history of depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus and also schizophrenia. Her regular medications included metformin 850 mg three times daily, novomix 30 twice daily, ramipril 2.5 mg daily, citalopram 20 mg daily, quetiapine 250 mg twice daily, and procyclidine 5 mg twice daily. On admission to the emergency department, she had a Glasgow coma score of 10 (E4, V1, M5), was severely dehydrated with tongue ulceration, hypothermic at 34.4C, a ventilatory frequency 18 bpm, heart rate 88 beats min1, arterial pressure 88/36 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation 96% on room air. The initial blood investigations revealed acute renal failure (with no past medical history of renal impairment) with a urea 28.7 mmol litre1, creatinine 581 mol litre1, and an increasing potassium 5.6 mmol litre1. A full blood count showed haemoglobin of 13.6 g dl1, platelets 430109 litre1, and white blood cells 22.3109 litre1. C-reactive protein was mildly elevated at 30 mg litre1 and plasma glucose was 11.8 mmol litre1. Venous blood gas sampling showed a lactic acidosis (pH 7.194, Pco2 2.93 kPa, HCO3 10.8 mEq litre1, base excess 17.9, and blood lactate 10.6). Calculation of the anion gap revea Continue reading >>
Lactic Acidosis
The buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. This medical emergency most commonly results from oxygen deprivation in the body’s tissues, impaired liver function, respiratory failure, or cardiovascular disease. It can also be caused by a class of oral diabetes drugs called biguanides, which includes metformin (brand name Glucophage). Another biguanide called phenformin was pulled from the market in the United States in 1977 because of an unacceptably high rate of lactic acidosis associated with its use. Concerns about lactic acidosis also delayed the introduction of metformin to the U.S. market until 1995, despite the fact that it had been widely used for years in other countries. There have been reports of lactic acidosis occurring in people taking metformin, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that lactic acidosis occurs in 5 out of every 100,000 people who use metformin for any length of time. However, this risk is much lower than it was in people taking phenformin, and it is not clear whether the episodes of lactic acidosis associated with metformin have actually been due to metformin use. In fact, the lactic acidosis could have been explained by the person’s diabetes and related medical conditions. Nonetheless, diabetes experts recommend that metformin not be used in people with congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease. They also recommend that it be discontinued (at least temporarily) in people undergoing certain medical imaging tests called contrast studies. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired or having unusual muscle pain or unusual stomach discomfort. Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Metformin Faqs
Tweet Although one of the most common drugs for type 2 diabetics, Metformin can still confuse diabetic patients. This set of FAQs are intended for information purposes, and should not replace or supersede the advice of a doctor or qualified medical professional. If you have a question about diabetes and Metformin that is not covered here, please ask the community in the Diabetes forum. Should all type 2 diabetics take Meformin? One side effect of taking Metformin is lactic acidosis, and for this reason some diabetics should not take Metformin unless specifically advised to do so by their GP or diabetes healthcare team. For this reason, diabetics with kidney problems, liver problems, and heart problems are often advised to avoid Metformin. Similarly, diabetics that are dehydrated, drink alcohol a lot, or are going to have an x-ray or surgery. For some pregnant diabetics, Metformin may not be the best choice, but in all instances this should be discussed with your doctor. Can young diabetics take Metformin? Metformin has been proven in clinical trials to lower glucose levels amongst children between 10-16 years of age suffering from type 2 diabetes. Research is less conclusive about children under 10 and children taking Metformin alongside other treatments, but your diabetes health care team should be able to elaborate on this. How much Metformin should I take? This will depend entirely on your condition, and your doctor will be able to tell you how much Metformin to take, when you should take it, and how you should take it. Usually, diabetics start out on a low dose of Metformin, and this is slowly increased until blood sugar responds. Doctors often put diabetics on combination courses with other medication, including insulin. If I take Metformin, can I stop my diet and Continue reading >>
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Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious problem that can occur in people with diabetes if their body starts to run out of insulin. This causes harmful substances called ketones to build up in the body, which can be life-threatening if not spotted and treated quickly. DKA mainly affects people with type 1 diabetes, but can sometimes occur in people with type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, it's important to be aware of the risk and know what to do if DKA occurs. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis Signs of DKA include: needing to pee more than usual being sick breath that smells fruity (like pear drop sweets or nail varnish) deep or fast breathing feeling very tired or sleepy passing out DKA can also cause high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) and a high level of ketones in your blood or urine, which you can check for using home-testing kits. Symptoms usually develop over 24 hours, but can come on faster. Check your blood sugar and ketone levels Check your blood sugar level if you have symptoms of DKA. If your blood sugar is 11mmol/L or over and you have a blood or urine ketone testing kit, check your ketone level. If you do a blood ketone test: lower than 0.6mmol/L is a normal reading 0.6 to 1.5mmol/L means you're at a slightly increased risk of DKA and should test again in a couple of hours 1.6 to 2.9mmol/L means you're at an increased risk of DKA and should contact your diabetes team or GP as soon as possible 3mmol/L or over means you have a very high risk of DKA and should get medical help immediately If you do a urine ketone test, a result of more than 2+ means there's a high chance you have DKA. When to get medical help Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department straight away if you think you have DKA, especially if you have a high level of ketones in Continue reading >>
Life Threatening Lactic Acidosis
M Lemyze, specialist registrar in critical care medicine 1 , J F Baudry, specialist registrar in critical care medicine 2 , F Collet, specialist registrar in critical care medicine 2 , N Guinard, specialist registrar in critical care medicine 2 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Schaffner Hospital, 62300 Lens, France 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, Broussais Hospital, 35400 Saint Malo, France Correspondence to: M Lemyze malcolmlemyze{at}yahoo.fr An 83 year old woman with diabetes presented to the emergency department with progressive shortness of breath and a two week history of diarrhoea. Her drugs included aspirin, 75 mg four times a day; a combination of irbesartan with hydrochlorothiazide, 300/25 mg four times a day; and metformin, 1000 mg three times a day. She had no previously known renal insufficiency, but on arrival she was oliguric, disoriented, and confused. Her respiratory rate was 32 breaths/min, blood pressure was 76/46 mm Hg, heart rate was 125 beats/min, and rectal temperature reached 36.8C. She had cool and clammy extremities and a persistent skinfoldadditional evidence of severe dehydration. Arterial blood gases showed a profound lactic acidosis, with pH 6.72, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) 14 mm Hg, partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) 106 mm Hg, bicarbonate 12 mmol/l, and a high lactate concentration of 17.4 mmol/l. Laboratory results showed a normal blood glucose concentration of 9 mmol/l, a serum urea of 22 mmol/l, a serum creatinine of 779 mol/l, an increased serum potassium concentration of 6.8 mmol/l, and a decreased prothrombin activity of 43% (prothrombin time of 21 seconds). Chest and abdominal examination, chest radiography, urine dipstick, plasma C reactive protein (<5 mg/l), and procalcitonin (<0.5 g/l) concentrations sh Continue reading >>
Barth Syndrome As The Cause Of Hypoglycaemia And/or Lactic Acidosis
Neonatal hypoglycaemia and lactic acidosis Hypoglycaemia and lactic acidosis in response to infection Boys with Barth Syndrome are prone todeveloping a low blood sugar ( hypoglycaemia, hypoglycemia [US]) and acidicblood due to a build-up of lactic acid, especially during neonatallife and infancy. Lactic acidosis is particularly common whensevere heart failure occurs.However, it is well recognised thatboys with Barth Syndrome can develop hypoglycaemia and/or lacticacidosis without heart failure being apparent, especially duringviral infections which cause vomiting or prevent feeding. This isespecially the case with viral gastroenteritis which can be a veryimportant precipitating factor and may require early hospitaladmission for intravenous supplements. The potential forhypoglycaemia is probably partly due to the low muscle mass presentin many boys. Hypoglycaemia can be life-threatening, causingdrowsiness or coma, when the blood glucose falls to less than 1.5mmol/l (27mg/dl). It can also make boys wake up in the morningfeeling unwell with headache. Barth Syndrome could potentially be confusedwith other biochemical diseases which produce hypoglycaemia inresponse to infective stress. This includes mitochondrial diseasesand Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency(MCADD) and related disorders. Continue reading >>
A Side Effect You Should Know About
The glucose-lowering medication metformin (Glucophage) could cause lactic acidosis if your kidneys and liver are not working efficiently. Lactic acidosis is when high levels build up in the blood of a substance called lactic acid — a chemical that is normally produced by your body in small amounts and removed by your liver and kidneys. The risk of lactic acidosis goes up if you: have heart failure or a lung ailment have kidney or liver problems drink alcohol heavily In these cases, you might not be able to take metformin. If you don't have one of these problems, you are at a very low risk for developing lactic acidosis from metformin. You should, however, contact your doctor immediately if you suddenly develop any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: diarrhea fast and shallow breathing muscle pain or cramping weakness tiredness or unusual sleepiness You should also let your doctor know if you get the flu or any illness that results in severe vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever, or if your intake of fluids becomes significantly reduced. Severe dehydration can affect your kidney or liver function and increase your risk of lactic acidosis from metformin. Continue reading >>
Lactic Acidosis Clinical Presentation: History, Physical Examination
Author: Kyle J Gunnerson, MD; Chief Editor: Michael R Pinsky, MD, CM, Dr(HC), FCCP, MCCM more... The onset of acidosis may be rapid (ie, within minutes to hours) or progressive (ie, over a period of several days). Lactic acidosis frequently occurs during strenuous exercise in healthy people, bearing no consequence. However, development of lactic acidosis in disease states is ominous, often indicating a critical illness of recent onset. Therefore, a careful history should be obtained to evaluate the underlying pathophysiologic cause of shock that contributed to lactic acidosis. Furthermore, a detailed history of ingestion of various prescription drugs or toxins from the patient or a collateral history from the patient's family should be obtained. The clinical signs and symptoms associated with lactic acidosis are highly dependent on the underlying etiology. No distinctive features are specific for hyperlactatemia. Lactate acidosis is present in patients who are critically ill from hypovolemic, septic, or cardiogenic shock. Lactate acidosis always should be suspected in the presence of elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is a serious complication of antiretroviral therapy. A history of antiretroviral treatment should be obtained. Children who have a relatively mild form of congenital lactic acidosis may develop firmament metabolic acidosis during an acute illness such as respiratory infection. These patients have a deficiency in the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, and the stress-induced increases in the glycolytic rate may result in severe metabolic acidosis. D-lactic acidosis, a unique form of lactic acidosis, can occur in patients with jejunoileal bypass or small bowel resection causing short bowel syndrome. In these settings, the glucose and car Continue reading >>
Case Report: A Rare Cause Of Severe Lactic Acidosis
1Department of Acute Medicine and Elderly Care, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Walsall, West Midlands, UK 2Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Walsall, West Midlands, UK 3Department of Anaesthetics, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Walsall, West Midlands, UK 4Department of Acute Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK Correspondence to Dr Saad Saeed, [email protected] Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown aetiology with a classic histology of non-caseating granulomas. It most often occurs in those below the age of 50 years, and has a female preponderance. The main targets, often symptomless, are the lung and hilar lymph nodes, although liver involvement is not uncommon. Hepatic sarcoidosis encompasses a broad spectrum of presentations, from asymptomatic hepatic granulomas with slight liver function test derangement to severe liver involvement with cholestasis, advanced liver cirrhosis or chronic liver failure. Mortality due to acute liver failure is far less common than lung and heart involvement. We describe a case of fulminant liver failure with multiorgan failure presenting initially with chronic non-specific symptoms, in addition to minimal abnormal investigations such as mild anaemia, neutrophil leucocytosis and mild obstructive liver dysfunction. Presenting features included confusion, hypotension, oliguria and rapidly deteriorating liver function with severe lactic acidosis. Postmortem examination confirmed extensive systemic sarcoidosis. Though deranged liver function is not uncommon in acute medical patients, we believe sarcoidosis should be considered as a differential diagnoses in such patients. Systemic sarcoidosis was not considered during our patient's illness. Postmortem examination, how Continue reading >>
Metformin Associated Lactic Acidosis
Emma Fitzgerald, specialist trainee year 2 in anaesthetics 1, Stephen Mathieu, specialist registrar in anaesthetics and intensive care medicine1, Andrew Ball, consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine1 1Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2JY Correspondence to: E Fitzgerald zcharm6{at}hotmail.com Dehydration in patients taking metformin can lead to metformin associated lactic acidosis, a potentially fatal condition Metformin, a dimethylbiguanide, is a widely used oral antihyperglycaemic drug used in the long term treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. More recently it has also been used to improve fertility and weight reduction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Many large studies have shown that intensive glucose control with metformin in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with risk reductions of 32% (P=0.002) for any diabetes related end point, 42% (P=0.017) for diabetes related death, and 36% (P=0.011) for all cause mortality compared with diet alone.1 Furthermore, metformin reduces microvascular end points, and its degree of glycaemic control is similar to that sulphonylureas and insulin. Metformin is considered to be first line treatment in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose is inadequately controlled by lifestyle interventions alone and should be considered as a first line glucose lowering treatment in non-overweight patients with type 2 diabetes because of its other beneficial effects.2 It may also be useful in overweight patients with type 1 diabetes. A potential complication of metformin is the development of type B (non-hypoxic) lactic acidosis. Although metformin associated lactic acidosis is a rare condition, with an estimated prevalence of one to five cases per 100 000 population Continue reading >>
Lactic Acidosis: What You Need To Know
Lactic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis that begins in the kidneys. People with lactic acidosis have kidneys that are unable to remove excess acid from their body. If lactic acid builds up in the body more quickly than it can be removed, acidity levels in bodily fluids — such as blood — spike. This buildup of acid causes an imbalance in the body’s pH level, which should always be slightly alkaline instead of acidic. There are a few different types of acidosis. Lactic acid buildup occurs when there’s not enough oxygen in the muscles to break down glucose and glycogen. This is called anaerobic metabolism. There are two types of lactic acid: L-lactate and D-lactate. Most forms of lactic acidosis are caused by too much L-lactate. Lactic acidosis has many causes and can often be treated. But if left untreated, it may be life-threatening. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are typical of many health issues. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor can help determine the root cause. Several symptoms of lactic acidosis represent a medical emergency: fruity-smelling breath (a possible indication of a serious complication of diabetes, called ketoacidosis) confusion jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) trouble breathing or shallow, rapid breathing If you know or suspect that you have lactic acidosis and have any of these symptoms, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away. Other lactic acidosis symptoms include: exhaustion or extreme fatigue muscle cramps or pain body weakness overall feelings of physical discomfort abdominal pain or discomfort diarrhea decrease in appetite headache rapid heart rate Lactic acidosis has a wide range of underlying causes, including carbon monoxide poisoni Continue reading >>
Severe Lactic Acidosis Reversed By Thiamine Within 24 Hours
Severe lactic acidosis reversed by thiamine within 24 hours 1Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, A-8036 Graz, Austria Karin Amrein: [email protected] ; Werner Ribitsch: [email protected] ; Ronald Otto: [email protected] ; Harald C Worm: [email protected] ; Rudolf E Stauber: [email protected] This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a pivotal role in carbohydrate metabolism. In acute deficiency, pyruvate accumulates and is metabolized to lactate, and chronic deficiency may cause polyneuropathy and Wernicke encephalopathy. Classic symptoms include mental status change, ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia but are present in only a few patients [ 1 ]. Critically ill patients are prone to thiamine deficiency because of preexistent malnutrition, increased consumption in high-carbohydrate nutrition, and accelerated clearance in renal replacement. In retrospective [ 2 ] and prospective [ 3 , 4 ] studies, a substantial prevalence of thiamine deficiency has been described in both adult (10% to 20%) and pediatric (28%) patients. Thiamine deficiency may become clinically evident in any type of malnutrition that outlasts thiamine body stores (2 to 3 weeks), including alcoholism, bariatric surgery, or hyperemesis gravidarum, and results in high morbidity and mortality if untreated [ 1 ]. We report the case of a 56-year-old man with profound lactic acidosis that resolved rapidly after thiamine infusion. He was admitted because of a decreased level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6). Vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, were normal. Besides reporting regular alcohol consumption, relatives reported recen Continue reading >>
