Open AccessLactic acidosis expediting a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Author(s) -
Heather Young,
Salil Singh,
B. Greystoke,
Robert P. Willert
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.02.2009.1601
Subject(s) - medicine , lactic acidosis , pancytopenia , metabolic acidosis , malignancy , acidosis , intensive care medicine , bone marrow
We report the finding of a low venous bicarbonate and lactic acidosis in a patient with mild pancytopenia which raised the suspicion of haematological malignancy and expedited the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This report highlights the value of testing for lactic acidosis when haematological malignancies are considered and reviews the metabolism of lactic acidosis.