BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuLactic acidosisLactic acidosis refers to lactic acid build up in the bloodstream. Lactic acid is produced when oxygen levels become low in cells within the areas of the body where metabolism takes place or in response to sympathetic overactivity related to epinephrine-type substances or exercise.Lactic acidLactic acid is mainly produced in muscle cells and red blood cells. It forms when the body breaks down carbohydrates to use for energy when oxygen l...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes The most common cause of lactic acidosis is severe medical illness in which blood pressure is low and too little oxygen is reaching the body's tissues. Intense exercise or convulsions can cause temporary lactic acidosis. Certain diseases can also cause the condition, including: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Alcoholism Cancer Cirrhosis CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cyanide poisoning Kidney failure Respiratory failure Respiratory failureRespiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when your lungs can't remove all of the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This causes the blood ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sepsis (severe infection)SepsisSepsis is an illness in which the body has a severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Some medicines can rarely cause lactic acidosis:Beta adrenergic agonist inhalers used to treat asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD (albuterol and salmeterol) Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Epinephrine Linezolid Metformin, used to treat diabetes (most often when overdosed) Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors used to treat HIV infection Propofol Symptoms Symptoms may include:Nausea Vomiting Weakness Muscle cramping Shortness of breath Exams and Tests Tests may include a blood test to check lactate and electrolyte levels. Treatment The main treatment for lactic acidosis is to correct the medical problem that causes the condition.Open ReferencesReferencesMcCoin NS, Self WH. Acid-base disorders. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 113.Palmer BF. Metabolic acidosis. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 13.Seifter JL. Acid-base disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 104.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Lactic acid test(Medical Test) Review Date: 10/27/2024 Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Lactic acidosisLactic acidosis refers to lactic acid build up in the bloodstream. Lactic acid is produced when oxygen levels become low in cells within the areas of the body where metabolism takes place or in response to sympathetic overactivity related to epinephrine-type substances or exercise.Lactic acidLactic acid is mainly produced in muscle cells and red blood cells. It forms when the body breaks down carbohydrates to use for energy when oxygen l...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes The most common cause of lactic acidosis is severe medical illness in which blood pressure is low and too little oxygen is reaching the body's tissues. Intense exercise or convulsions can cause temporary lactic acidosis. Certain diseases can also cause the condition, including: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Alcoholism Cancer Cirrhosis CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cyanide poisoning Kidney failure Respiratory failure Respiratory failureRespiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when your lungs can't remove all of the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This causes the blood ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sepsis (severe infection)SepsisSepsis is an illness in which the body has a severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Some medicines can rarely cause lactic acidosis:Beta adrenergic agonist inhalers used to treat asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD (albuterol and salmeterol) Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Epinephrine Linezolid Metformin, used to treat diabetes (most often when overdosed) Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors used to treat HIV infection Propofol Symptoms Symptoms may include:Nausea Vomiting Weakness Muscle cramping Shortness of breath Exams and Tests Tests may include a blood test to check lactate and electrolyte levels. Treatment The main treatment for lactic acidosis is to correct the medical problem that causes the condition.Open ReferencesReferencesMcCoin NS, Self WH. Acid-base disorders. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 113.Palmer BF. Metabolic acidosis. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 13.Seifter JL. Acid-base disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 104.
