Three Cases of Lactic Acidosis Caused by Biguanides

Abstract

Biguanides may cause lactic acidosis (LA) in elderly patients. We report three cases of LA after the administration of biguanides. Case 1 was an 85-year-old man with no hepatic dysfunction who was discharged, case 2 was a 67-year-old man with no hepatic dysfunction who was discharged, and case 3 was a 77-year-old woman with hepatic dysfunction who died. Therefore, caution should be exercised in administering biguanides to elderly patients with hepatic dysfunction.