Lactic Acidosis

Richard D. Moore, M.D.
Lactic Acidosis is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins HIV Guide.

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CLINICAL

  • Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, myalgias, and GI distress, including abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea. Later can advance to dyspnea, orthostasis, organ failure (hepatic, renal), cardiovascular collapse and death.
  • Mortality: 7% with lactate 5-10 mM, 20-30% with lactate 10-15 mM, 50-60% with lactate >15 mM
  • Caused by NRTI use: d4T, ddI, AZT. Does not appear to be caused by 3TC, FTC, ABC, TDF, TAF, though listed in package insert as a class effect. Use of d4T and ddI no longer recommended; occurrence now rare.
  • Associated with mitochondrial DNA gamma polymerase inhibition and decrease in mitochondrial DNA
  • May be accompanied by hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), pancreatitis. Fatal liver failure can occur (earliest reports in AZT-treated patients)
  • Increased risk with lower CD4, older age, female sex.

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Last updated: August 2, 2017