Sobredosis de metformina secundaria a insuficienciarenal aguda. A propósito de 6 observaciones / Overdose of metformin secondary to acute renal insufficiency: a report of six cases

La metformina es una biguanida utilizada en el tratamiento de pacientes adultos obesos afectos de una diabetes mellitus tipo 2 que reduce un 36% la mortalidad cuando se compara con el tratamiento convencional. Su administración tiene determinadas contraindicaciones que limitan su utilización y, cuando se hace caso omiso de ellas, especialmente la insuficiencia renal aguda, la metformina se acumula y aparece una acidosis láctica que puede ser fatal. Se presentan 6 pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda que tuvieron una acidosis metabólica aguda extrema (pH < 6,90 y bicarbonato < 5 mEq/l) e hiato aniónico aumentado mientras recibían tratamiento antidiabético con metformina. El ácido láctico sérico, analizado solamente en los 4 pacientes que sobrevivieron, estuvo elevado. Dos pacientes fallecieron tras presentar una parada cardíaca evitable. En conclusión, la acidosis láctica que aparece durante el tratamiento antidiabético con metformina exige un rápido diagnóstico y tratamiento que permitan retirar el fármaco e iniciar rápidamente una hemofiltración continua o hemodiálisis prolongadas con bicarbonato

Metformin is a biguanide used in the treatment of obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus; metformin decreases mortality by 36% in comparison to conventional treatment. Metformin administration has certain contraindications that, when ignored, especially in the case of acute renal insufficiency, leads to the accumulation of the drug and consequent lactic acidosis that can be fatal. We present 6 patients with acute renal insufficiency that experienced extreme acute metabolic acidosis (pH < 6.90 and bicarbonate < 5 mEq/l) and increased anion gap while receiving metformin for the treatment of diabetes. Serum lactic acid, only evaluated in the 4 patients that survived, was high. Two patients died after cardiac arrest that could have been avoided. In conclusion, lactic acidosis appearing during metformin treatment for diabetes requires rapid diagnosis and treatment to enable the drug to be withdrawn and prolonged continuous hemofiltration or hemodialysis with bicarbonate to be initiated

[Overdose of metformin secondary to acute renal insufficiency: a report of six cases]. / Sobredosis de metformina secundaria a insuficiencia renal aguda. A propósito de 6 observaciones.

Metformin is a biguanide used in the treatment of obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus; metformin decreases mortality by 36% in comparison to conventional treatment. Metformin administration has certain contraindications that, when ignored, especially in the case of acute renal insufficiency, leads to the accumulation of the drug and consequent lactic acidosis that can be fatal. We present 6 patients with acute renal insufficiency that experienced extreme acute metabolic acidosis (pH <6.90 and bicarbonate <5 mEq/l) and increased anion gap while receiving metformin for the treatment of diabetes. Serum lactic acid, only evaluated in the 4 patients that survived, was high. Two patients died after cardiac arrest that could have been avoided. In conclusion, lactic acidosis appearing during metformin treatment for diabetes requires rapid diagnosis and treatment to enable the drug to be withdrawn and prolonged continuous hemofiltration or hemodialysis with bicarbonate to be initiated.