[Lactic acidosis associated with metformin]

Lactic acidosis is an extremely rare but serious complication of treatment with metformin. In order to avoid lactate acidosis, it is important to select patients correctly and to ensure that contraindications such as cases of renal involvement, advanced age and chronic alcoholism are observed prior to treatment with metformin. In addition, it is necessary to carry out meticulous follow-up control of the patients with annual investigations of renal and hepatic functions and clinical assessment approximately four times per annum with the object of revealing commencing symptoms of diabetes and ischaemic conditions. In this manner, the majority of cases of lactate acidosis can be avoided.