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Signs of Lactic Acidosis

Lactic acidosis is a serious medical condition in which the blood becomes too acidic due to a buildup of excessive levels of lactate—a byproduct of glucose metabolism. This happens when the body either fails to synthesize hydrogencarbonate in the kidneys or begins to produce too much hydrogen due to cells' deprivation of sufficient oxygen. Since this metabolic disorder can lead to serious consequences, including coma and death, take steps to recognize the signs of lactic acidosis.

  1. Common Signs of Lactic Acidosis

    • The most common signs of lactic acidosis include nausea, fatigue and muscle weakness. These symptoms may worsen during or shortly after physical exertion. Almost always present in those with the condition, nausea often occurs along with abdominal pain and tenderness. Respiration may also increase, or the patient may have difficulty breathing overall. Since a lack of oxygenation will have occurred on a cellular level, the extremities may turn blue. Finally, the liver's ceasing to break down lactate may have brought on lactic acidosis in the first place, the liver may become inflamed and sensitive to pressure.

    Secondary Symptoms

    • A state of severe lactic acidosis, technically known as hyperlactatemia, translates to too much lactate. This condition commonly occurs alongside a secondary condition called hypoxia—a lack of adequate oxygen reaching cells. This deprivation may affect the entire body and may have resulted from external events, such as experiencing low levels of atmospheric oxygen at high altitudes. It may also occur as a result of the displacement of cellular oxygen, as when a person suffers exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide. However, ischemic hypoxia involves oxygen limitation affecting specific tissues or organs, such as the heart and brain. This carries significance since the mechanism behind lactic acidosis also triggers to the process of rigor mortis and can cause a stroke or heart attack before subsequently causing the oxygen-restricted organ to shut down.

    Lactic Acidosis as a Side Effect

    • A number of other conditions can facilitate the development of lactic acidosis as a side effect—examples include diabetes, kidney disease, congestive heart disease and heavy metal poisoning. In addition, lactic acidosis may also result from the patient's having taken certain medications prescribed to treat other diseases—most notably, the anti-HIV drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Prior to its removal from the market in the 1970s, the anti-diabetic drug phenformin significantly increased the risk of lactic acidosis, which proved fatal half the time. This drug has given way to metformin, which can cause a very low incidence of lactic acidosis, most frequently isolated to those with kidney disease.

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