What do high lactate levels mean

Type B: Seizures : depending on the type, seizures can produce a significant increase in lactate, but the effect is short-term; once the seizure has resolved, lactate levels typically return to baseline. Excessive muscle activity : lactate increases with strenuous exercise due to anaerobic metabolism and may be seen in rhabdomyolysis. Regional ischemia : mesenteric ischemia, bacterial peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, extremity compartment syndrome, gangrene and other types of soft tissue infections may elevate lactate.

Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA : due to a change in metabolism; elevated lactate in DKA is not necessarily associated with worse outcomes. Thiamine deficiency: low thiamine levels result in anaerobic metabolism and increased lactate production; risk factors for thiamine deficiency include poor nutrition, chronic liver disease, alcoholism, hyperemesis gravidarum, anorexia nervosa, and gastric bypass surgery.

Malignancy: tumors may cause production of glycolytic enzymes, impaired liver clearance and malnutrition leading to thiamine deficiency.

Liver dysfunction: the liver is the primary organ responsible for lactate clearance; injury or failure results in decreased lactate clearance.

Genetic: inborn disorders of metabolism, particularly in the pediatric population, may cause elevated lactate levels. Drugs and Toxins that may cause increased lactate: Metformin biguanide Acetaminophen Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors NRTI Linezolid Beta-2 agonists Propofol Epinephrine Theophylline Alcohols ethanol, propylene glycol and methanol Cocaine Carbon monoxide Cyanide Treatment of elevated lactate levels should be determined by the underlying cause.

If hypoperfusion or hypoxemia is the culprit, focus on improving perfusion to the affected tissues. In shock, treatments include fluid administration, vasopressors, or inotropes. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd ; , Comparison of blood lactate concentrations in central venous, pulmonary artery, and arterial blood. Crit Care Med ; 15,5: Effects of crystalloid solutions on circulating lactate concentrations: Part 1.

Implications for the proper handling of blood specimens obtained from critically ill patients [see comments]. Crit Care Med ; 25, The effect of different blood sampling sites and analyses on the relationship between exercise intensity and 4. Evaluation of a new, rapid lactate analyzer in critical care. Intensive Care Med ; 25,5: Serial blood lactate levels can predict the development of multiple organ failure following septic shock. Am J Surg ; ,2: Correlation of serial blood lactate levels to organ failure and mortality after trauma.

Am J Emerg Med ; 13,6: Lange H, Jackel R. Usefulness of plasma lactate concentration in the diagnosis of acute abdominal disease. Eur J Surg ; , Natural history and course of acquired lactic acidosis in adults. Am J Med ; 97,1: Occult hypoperfusion is associated with increased mortality in hemodynamically stable, high-risk, surgical patients. Crit Care ; 8,2: RR Low exogenous lactate clearance as an early predictor of mortality in normolactatemic critically ill septic patients.

Crit Care Med ; 31,3: Scoring systems and blood lactate concentrations in relation to the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure in severely traumatized patients.

J Trauma ; Base excess and lactate as prognostic indicators for patients admitted to intensive care. Intensive Care Med ; 27,1: Am Rev Respir Dis ; ,2 Pt 1: Treatment of lactic acidosis with dichloroacetate.

N Engl J Med ; ,7: A controlled clinical trial of dichloroacetate for treatment of lactic acidosis in adults. N Engl J Med ; , Bicarbonate does not improve hemodynamics in critically ill patients who have lactic acidosis. A prospective, controlled clinical study. Ann Intern Med ; Effects of bicarbonate therapy on hemodynamics and tissue oxygenation in patients with lactic acidosis: a prospective, controlled clinical study. Crit Care Med ; 19, Fluid loading increases oxygen consumption in septic patients with lactic acidosis.

Am Rev Respir Dis ; ,6: Effect of stored-blood transfusion on oxygen delivery in patients with sepsis. Reversible decrease of oxygen consumption by hyperoxia. Chest ; 99,3: Comparison of hemodynamic and oxygen transport effects of dopamine and dobutamine in critically ill surgical patients.

Chest ; 96,1: Ince C, Sinaasappel M. Microcirculatory oxygenation and shunting in sepsis and shock. Crit Care Med ; 27,7: The golden hour and the silver day: detection and correction of occult hypoperfusion within 24 hours improves outcome from major trauma. J Trauma ; 47,5: A prospective, randomized study of goal-oriented hemodynamic therapy in cardiac surgical patients.

Anesth Analg ; 90,5: Serial lactate determinations during circulatory shock. Crit Care Med ; A dobutamine test can disclose hepatosplanchnic hypoperfusion in septic patients. Dobutamine administration in septic shock: Addition to a standard protocol. Relationship between oxygen uptake and oxygen delivery in septic patients: effects of prostacyclin versus dobutamine.

Crit Care Med ; 21, Nitroglycerin in septic shock after intravascular volume resuscitation. Lancet ; , Quantitation of severity of critical illness with special reference to blood lactate.

Crit Care Med ; 1,2: Blood pressure and arterial lactate level are early indicators of short-term survival in human septic shock. Disclaimer May contain information that is not supported by performance and intended use claims of Radiometer's products.

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Related Articles. Measurement of glucose and lactate after 30 minutes of storage at room temperature can give Sign up for the Acute Care Testing newsletter Sign up. About this site. About Radiometer. Privacy Policy. After training you can perform at a higher rate of work without raising your blood lactate levels above initially tested levels. In other words, blood lactate concentrations at various training intensities are lower and your speed or power at OBLA is faster or greater respectively.

This is in part due to the fact that, training results in a decrease in lactate production and an increase of lactate re-uptake within the body. There is limited research regarding health status and lactate. Metabolic acidosis is typically is seen in conditions such as in the kidney and chronic renal failure.

Toggle navigation. Lactate Profile. Risks There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein. You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes. In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this. Results A lactic acid test is a blood test that measures the level of lactic acid made in the body.

Normal The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. Results are ready in 1 day. Lactic acid footnote 1 Venous blood 0. Blood problems, such as severe anemia or leukemia. Liver disease or liver damage that prevents the liver from breaking down lactic acid in the blood.

Conditions such as severe bleeding, shock , severe infection, heart failure , blockage of blood flow to the intestines, carbon monoxide poisoning , or pulmonary embolism that prevent adequate oxygen from reaching the body's cells. Extremely strenuous exercise or extreme overheating. Poisoning by alcohol ethanol , wood alcohol methanol , or antifreeze ethylene glycol. Some medicines, such as isoniazid for tuberculosis or metformin Glucophage for diabetes.

Lactic acidosis is a concern for people who take metformin to control their diabetes, especially if they have poor kidney function. What Affects the Test Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include: Taking large doses of the medicine epinephrine. Taking medicines, such as isoniazid for tuberculosis or metformin Glucophage for diabetes. Using a lot of acetaminophen such as Tylenol or alcohol. Exercising prior to this test.

Clenching a fist while the blood sample is being drawn. Also, lactic acid levels may be higher if the tourniquet is around your arm for a long time.