[Semi-automatic determination of blood lactate during hypoglycemic treatment with biguanides]

Blood lactate levels were determined by Lactate Analyzer 640 Kontron in 67 adult insulin-independent diabetics during hypoglycemic treatment with usual therapeutical doses of phenformin. In 5 cases were found lactate values above 2 mmol/l and, in consideration of accompanying conditions prone to lactic acidosis, the drug was discontinued. However, the mean value of blood lactate in diabetics treated with phenformin was not significantly different from that found in a group of insulin-treated diabetics. The semiautomatic determination of blood lactate is proposed as a rapid screening of possible candidates for lactic acidosis during biguanide treatment.