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Severe acidosis in patients taking metformin—rapid reversal and survival despite high APACHE score
Author(s) -
Nyirenda M. J.,
Sandeep T.,
Grant I.,
Price G.,
McKnight J. A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2006.01813.x
Subject(s) - medicine , metformin , lactic acidosis , diabetes mellitus , acidosis , type 2 diabetes , type 2 diabetes mellitus , metabolic acidosis , intensive care medicine , endocrinology
Background Metformin has been shown to reduce complications and mortality from Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is increasingly used to treat this condition. This agent is, however, associated with a rare but serious risk of lactic acidosis. Case report We present cases of 10 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who developed acute renal failure and severe lactic acidosis. Despite the severity of their illness, all patients but one survived. Conclusions The increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and its treatment with metformin might result in more cases of lactic acidosis. However our case report demonstrates that early and aggressive treatment with haemofiltration can improve outcomes even in the presence of severe acidosis. Diabet. Med. 23, 432–435 (2006)