[Lactic acidosis and biguanid therapy (author's transl)]

Ten case histories of patients with lactic acidosis and biguanide therapy are presented. 6 patients received phenformin, 4 buformin. The symptomatology was characterized by somnolence or unconsciousness with hyperventilation, renal insufficiency, signs of infection occasionally with detection of gram negative rods and in later stages circulatory insufficiency with high central venous pressure. Glucose, insulin, bicarbonate, dialysis, antibiotics and katecholamines were the therapeutic measurements. It is the proposal of this communication to call attention again to the potential toxicity of biguanids which makes necessary the strict observation of contraindications.