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Intensive Care Medicine pp 88–98Cite as

Lactic Acidosis and Hyperlactatemia

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Abstract

Traditionally, hyperlactatemia in critically ill patients and particularly those in shock was interpreted as a marker of secondary anaerobic metabolism due to inadequate oxygen supply inducing cellular distress [1]. Many arguments have since refuted this view [2]. With lactate metabolism being extensively described in classical biochemistry manuals, this chapter will focus only on those aspects as they relate to critically ill patients. Distinction between lactic acidosis, metabolic acidosis with hyperlactatemia, and isolated hyperlactatemia will also be addressed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Central Hospital, 54000, Nancy, France

    B. Levy

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  1. B. Levy
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent MD, PhD, FCCM, FCCP (Head) (Head)

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© 2006 Springer Science + Business Media Inc.

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Levy, B. (2006). Lactic Acidosis and Hyperlactatemia. In: Vincent, JL. (eds) Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-35096-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-35096-9_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-30156-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-35096-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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