Phenformin and metabolic acidosis

Phenformin Induced Lactic Acidosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A case report of a patient who developed lactic acidosis following a phenformin overdose is presented. The patient was successfully treated by intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate and did not have any further problems.

A review of the literature concerning phenformin induced lactic acidosis, treatment modalities and a discussion of the mechanisms involved is presented.

Lactic acidosis in biguanide-treated diabetics: a review of 330 cases

The paper presents an analysis of clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory data of 330 diabetic patients who developed lactic acidosis after having been treated with biguanides (phenformin, buformin, metformin). From the review of the literature an attempt is made to find special features that predisposed patients to develop lactic acidosis such as accompanying illnesses and additional medications, to describe the course of illness and also the factors that influenced the prognosis. Of the patients that developed lactic acidosis 50.3% died. These patients were older, they suffered more frequently from cardiovascular shock, their acidosis was more severe, the whole blood lactate concentration was higher, and the degree of renal insufficiency was more advanced. From our observations we conclude the the treatment of diabetes mellitus with biguanides should be reserved for specially selected patients.

Effect of ethyloestrenol on fibrinolysis in the vessel wall

Forty-nine patients with decreased fibrinolytic activity in the vessel walls or a decreased release mechanism, or both, were treated with ethyloestrenol for three to 17 months. Forty-five of the patients had had recurrent, phlebographically verified, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and four had arterial thrombosis. Ethyloestrenol 8 mg/day was given to 31 patients and 4 mg/day was given to 12. The remaining six patients had been treated with a combination of phenformin and ethloestrenol. The phenformin was withdrawn but they were kept on ethyloestrenol 8 mg/day. Another 15 patients with a normal fibrinolytic system--four with recurrent DVT and 11 with severe arteriosclerosis--were given ethyloestrenol 8 mg/day. The spontaneous fibrinolytic activity, local fibrinolytic activity during standardised venous occlusion of the arms, and fibrinolytic activity of the vessel walls increased significantly after treatment with ethyloestrenol 8 mg/day for three months. No further increase occurred after three months, and ethyloestrenol 4 mg/day had no effect. No values rose significantly in the patients with a normal fibrinolytic system. One patient suffered a recurrence within three months of treatment, before the fibrinolytic system became normal. In one patient the fibrinolytic defect reappeared after 10 months in spite of continued treatment. Two of the three women of fertile age developed irregular cycles and intermenstrual bleeding, which disappeared when the treatment was withdrawn. No other side effects were observed.

Lactic acidosis and hyperamylasaemia associated with phenformin therapy

A case is described of lactic acidosis and hyperamylasaemia in a diabetic with impaired renal function treated with phenformin. Despite normal blood pressure and adequate tissue perfusion, the patient succumbed. No evidence of pancreatitis could be found at autopsy.