Three Cases of Lactic Acidosis Caused by Biguanides

Cureus. 2022 Nov 12;14(11):e31419. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31419. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Biguanides may cause lactic acidosis (LA) in elderly patients. We report three cases of LA after the administration of biguanides. Case 1 was an 85-year-old man with no hepatic dysfunction who was discharged, case 2 was a 67-year-old man with no hepatic dysfunction who was discharged, and case 3 was a 77-year-old woman with hepatic dysfunction who died. Therefore, caution should be exercised in administering biguanides to elderly patients with hepatic dysfunction.

Keywords: acute care medicine; biguanides; case report; diabetes mellitus; lactic acidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports