Lactic acidosis

Lactic acidosis ( from lactate and acidosis, lactic acidosis also ) describes a disease condition with low pH in tissues and blood (acidosis ) due to increased content of lactic acid ( lactate). It is a special form of metabolic acidosis.

Lactic acidosis is generally formed by a disturbed cell metabolism, in which the oxygen - consuming (aerobic ) glucose degradation can not proceed to completion. As an intermediate product of the metabolism then lactic acid accumulates (lactate ), since the energy- winning breakdown of glucose to lactic acid is also possible without oxygen.

In severe cases, the lactic acidosis lead to shock and failure of kidney function.

The signs of lactic acidosis are deeper breathing, nausea and abdominal pain. Because of these non-specific symptoms of lactic acidosis can be secured only by laboratory tests. Causes of lactic acidosis may also liver and kidney disease or sepsis in addition to diabetic ketoacidosis. As a medication side effect was this disease in biguanides in the treatment of diabetes mellitus ( today only metformin) described, but also in anti -retroviral drugs (NRTI ) for the treatment of HIV disease or the anesthetic propofol ( propofol infusion syndrome) in terms of mitochondrial toxicity.