Lactic acidosis

Infobox_Disease
Name = Lactic acidosis


Caption = Lactic acid
DiseasesDB = 29145
ICD10 = ICD10|E|87|2|e|70
ICD9 = ICD9|276.2
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus = 000391
eMedicineSubj = med
eMedicineTopic = 1253
MeshName = Lactic+Acidosis
MeshNumber = C18.452.076.176.180

Lactic acidosis is a condition caused by the buildup of lactic acid in the body. It leads to acidification of the blood (acidosis), and is considered a distinct form of metabolic acidosis.cite journal | last=Luft | first=FC | title=Lactic acidosis update for critical care clinicians | journal=Journal of the American Society of Nephrology | volume=12 | issue=Suppl. 17 | pages=15–19 | publisher=American Society of Nephrology | date=February 2001 | url=http://jasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/12/suppl_1/S15 | pmid=11251027 | accessdate=2008-05-28 ]

The cells produce lactic acid when they use glucose for energy in the absence of adequate oxygen. If too much lactic acid stays in the body, the balance tips and the person begins to feel ill. The signs of lactic acidosis are deep and rapid breathing, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Lactic acidosis may be caused by diabetic ketoacidosis or liver or kidney disease, as well as some forms of medication (most notably the anti-diabetic drug metformin). Some anti-HIV drugs (antiretrovirals) warn doctors in their prescribing information to regularly watch for symptoms of lactic acidosis caused by mitochondrial toxicity.

Classification

The "Cohen-Woods classification" categorises causes of lactic acidosis as follows:cite book |author=Woods, Hubert Frank; Cohen, Robert |title=Clinical and biochemical aspects of lactic acidosis |publisher=Blackwell Scientific |location=Oxford |year=1976 |pages= |isbn=0-632-09460-5 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=]
* Type A: Decreased perfusion or oxygenation
* Type B:
** B1: Underlying diseases (sometimes causing type A)
** B2: Medication or intoxication
** B3: Inborn error of metabolism

Associated conditions

Lactic acidosis is an underlying process of rigor mortis. Tissue in the muscles of the deceased resort to anaerobic metabolism in the absence of oxygen and significant amounts of lactic acid are released into the muscle tissue. This along with the loss of ATP causes the muscles to grow stiff.

Lactic acidosis may also result from Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.

ee also

* Metabolic acidosis

References

* Clinical Physiology of Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders by Rose, Post
* Intensive Care Medicine by Irwin and Rippe
* The ICU Book by Marino