RT Journal
A1 Heinig RE, Clarke EF, Waterhouse C
T1 LActic acidosis and liver disease
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1979
FD November 1
VO 139
IS 11
SP 1229
OP 1232
DO 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630480019010
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630480019010
AB Both acute and chronic hepatic insufficiency can result in lactate accumulation and lactic acidosis; data from both types of patients were compared. In the chronic group, an acute precipitating event was identified in seven of nine subjects. Four had sepsis and three had gastrointestinal hemorrhage. In these patients, results from most tests of hepatic function were not altered dramatically. There were no long-term survivors in this group. In contrast, patients with acute hepatic failure had striking alterations in their results of hepatic function tests. Notable prolongation of the prothrombin time was always present initially and antedated other abnormalities of hepatic function. Three of seven patients in this group survived. Hypoglycemia was seen in both groups and in two subjects with acute hepatic insufficiency, glucose administration alone resulted in rapid lowering of lactate levels.(Arch Intern Med 139:1229-1232, 1979)