acute lactic acidosis
Last reviewed 03/2023
Lactic acid is the end product of anaerobic glycolysis.
Lactate is in equilibrium with pyruvate, anaerobic conditions increasing the normal 10:1 lactate:pyruvate ratio.
The concentration of lactate in the blood is usually less than 1 mM, but rise physiologically after severe exercise to as high as 10 mM.
Lactic acidosis should be suspected in patients with a high anion gap metabolic acidosis, when uraemia and ketoacidosis have be excluded.