http://ccforum.com/content/15/6/457
Severe lactic acidosis reversed by thiamine within 24 hours
Department of Internal
Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, A-8036 Graz,
Austria
Critical Care 2011, 15:457 doi:10.1186/cc10495
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://ccforum.com/content/15/6/457
© 2011 BioMed Central Ltd
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://ccforum.com/content/15/6/457
Published: | 1 December 2011 |
© 2011 BioMed Central Ltd
Letter
Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a pivotal role in carbohydrate metabolism.
In acute deficiency, pyruvate accumulates and is metabolized to lactate, and chronic
deficiency may cause polyneuropathy and Wernicke encephalopathy. Classic symptoms
include mental status change, ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia but are present in only
a few patients [1]. Critically ill patients are prone to thiamine deficiency because of preexistent
malnutrition, increased consumption in high-carbohydrate nutrition, and accelerated
clearance in renal replacement. In retrospective [2] and prospective [3,4] studies, a substantial prevalence of thiamine deficiency has been described in both
adult (10% to 20%) and pediatric (28%) patients. Thiamine deficiency may become clinically
evident in any type of malnutrition that outlasts thiamine body stores (2 to 3 weeks),
including alcoholism, bariatric surgery, or hyperemesis gravidarum, and results in
high morbidity and mortality if untreated [1].
We report the case of a 56-year-old man with profound lactic acidosis that resolved
rapidly after thiamine infusion. He was admitted because of a decreased level of consciousness
(Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6). Vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate,
and oxygen saturation, were normal. Besides reporting regular alcohol consumption,
relatives reported recent progressive weakness and 5-kg weight loss. Laboratory findings
on admission were remarkable for moderate hypoglycemia and metabolic acidosis - pH
of 6.87, base excess of -29.5, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) of 14 mm Hg - with a high anion gap (37 mmol/L) that was attributed to severe hyperlactatemia
(21 mmol/L). After intravenous glucose administration, the patient was transferred
to the intensive care unit, where he received sodium bicarbonate and 1,500 mL of lactate-free
isotonic crystalloids. Within the next few hours, lactate levels increased further
while pH slowly improved. Clinically, thiamine deficiency was suspected after other
causes of hyperlactatemia, such as hypoxia and hepatic failure, were excluded. After
administration of 300 mg of intravenous thiamine, hyperlactatemia normalized rapidly
(Figure 1). Unfortunately, the patient suffered persistent neurocognitive deficits.
Figure 1. Lactate levels during the first 24 hours. IV, intravenous.
Thiamine deficiency may cause unspecific neurologic symptoms. Glucose administration
or feeding may aggravate depletion. Thiamine deficiency is an underdiagnosed cause
of lactic acidosis, although treatment is safe, inexpensive, and readily available.
Current guidelines on parenteral nutrition recommend a daily intravenous dose of 100
to 300 mg of thiamine during the first 3 days in the intensive care unit when deficiency
is a possibility (grade B) [5]. In conclusion, although its clinical significance has been known for decades, thiamine
deficiency remains an under-recognized condition. Intensivists should have an increased
awareness of this problem and a low threshold to infuse high-dose thiamine. Future
prospective studies to define the optimal dose and duration of treatment are warranted.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests and that the data presented
have not been published previously, except in abstract form.
Acknowledgements
We thank Steven Amrein for critical review of the manuscript.
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