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Unusual Case of Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis in Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

H. Pham, Thu Thi Nguyen, L. L. Phuong, M. Nguyen, L. V. Hoa

The American journal of case reports, 2022

3 citations

Abstract

Patient: Male, 66-year-old Final Diagnosis: Metformin associated lactic acidosis Symptoms: Fatigue • nausea • vomiting • abdominal pain • watery diarrhea Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Critical Care Medicine • Endocrinology and Metabolic • Nephrology Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Metformin is recommended as the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to the American Diabetes Association. It is considered a safe medication with minimal adverse effects, with the most common being gastrointestinal. Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is a rare but life-threatening complication. MALA usually occurs in patients with kidney dysfunction. However, it can still occur with preserved kidney function with the ingestion of a large dose of metformin. Case Report: A 66-year-old man with a significant medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presented after an intentional ingestion of a high dose of metformin (3000 mg/day). He was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea lasting for 3 days. His initial laboratory findings were remarkable, with a serum creatinine level of 819 µmol/L. Arterial blood gas revealed severe lactic acidosis, with a pH of 6.94, HCO3– of 3 mEq/L, anion gap of 48 mmol/L, and lactate level of 15 mmol/L. Emergent continuous renal replacement therapy was done. Two days later, his condition improved considerably, and the lactic acidosis was…

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