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Lactic acidosis due to metformin accumulation complicating acute gastroenteritis

Publication at Third Faculty of Medicine |
2016

Abstract

Lactic acidosis is the most severe adverse effect associated with metformin therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk increases in patients with impaired renal function, most commonly due to diabetic nephropathy, and may be augmented when concurrent medication with a negative impact on renal function is used.

The authors present a series of three patients who were admitted to a department of infectious diseases for acute gastroenteritis and within a few hours developed shock syndrome caused by severe lactic acidosis due to accumulation of metformin.