Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Critical Care 5/2012

01-10-2012 | Commentary

Metformin overdose: time to move on

Authors: Jean-Christophe Orban, Eric Fontaine, Carole Ichai

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 5/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Does metformin-associated lactic acidosis really exist? Despite an old controversy, there is no doubt about it. But do we understand what is going on? Laboratory findings raised several hypotheses explaining the pathophysiology of this disease. The main cause could be an inhibition of either gluconeogenesis or mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. From bench to bedside, one hypothesis is now confirmed in humans. Metformin poisoning involves, at least partially, a mitochondrial dysfunction.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Protti A, Lecchi A, Fortunato F, Artoni A, Greppi N, Vecchio S, Fagiolari G, Moggio M, Comi GP, Mistraletti G, Lanticina B, Faraldi L, Gattinoni L: Metformin overdose causes platelet mitochondrial dysfunction in humans. Crit Care. 2012, 16: R180-10.1186/cc11663.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Protti A, Lecchi A, Fortunato F, Artoni A, Greppi N, Vecchio S, Fagiolari G, Moggio M, Comi GP, Mistraletti G, Lanticina B, Faraldi L, Gattinoni L: Metformin overdose causes platelet mitochondrial dysfunction in humans. Crit Care. 2012, 16: R180-10.1186/cc11663.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group: Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). Lancet. 1998, 352: 854-865.CrossRef UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group: Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). Lancet. 1998, 352: 854-865.CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Kwong SC, Brubacher J: Phenformin and lactic acidosis: a case report and review. J Emerg Med. 1998, 16: 881-886. 10.1016/S0736-4679(98)00103-6.CrossRefPubMed Kwong SC, Brubacher J: Phenformin and lactic acidosis: a case report and review. J Emerg Med. 1998, 16: 881-886. 10.1016/S0736-4679(98)00103-6.CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Salpeter SR, Greyber E, Pasternak GA, Salpeter EE: Risk of fatal and nonfatal lactic acidosis with metformin use in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010, CD002967-4 Salpeter SR, Greyber E, Pasternak GA, Salpeter EE: Risk of fatal and nonfatal lactic acidosis with metformin use in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010, CD002967-4
5.
go back to reference Holstein A, Nahrwold D, Hinze S, Egberts EH: Contra-indications to metformin therapy are largely disregarded. Diabet Med. 1999, 16: 692-696. 10.1046/j.1464-5491.1999.00115.x.CrossRefPubMed Holstein A, Nahrwold D, Hinze S, Egberts EH: Contra-indications to metformin therapy are largely disregarded. Diabet Med. 1999, 16: 692-696. 10.1046/j.1464-5491.1999.00115.x.CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Orban JC, Giunti C, Levraut J, Grimaud D, Ichai C: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis remains a serious complication of metformin therapy. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2003, 22: 461-465. 10.1016/S0750-7658(03)00067-4.CrossRefPubMed Orban JC, Giunti C, Levraut J, Grimaud D, Ichai C: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis remains a serious complication of metformin therapy. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2003, 22: 461-465. 10.1016/S0750-7658(03)00067-4.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Wills BK, Bryant SM, Buckley P, Seo B: Can acute overdose of metformin lead to lactic acidosis?. Am J Emerg Med. 2010, 28: 857-861. 10.1016/j.ajem.2009.04.012.CrossRefPubMed Wills BK, Bryant SM, Buckley P, Seo B: Can acute overdose of metformin lead to lactic acidosis?. Am J Emerg Med. 2010, 28: 857-861. 10.1016/j.ajem.2009.04.012.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Foretz M, Hébrard S, Leclerc J, Zarrinpashneh E, Soty M, Mithieux G, Sakamoto K, Andreelli F, Viollet B: Metformin inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice independently of the LKB1/AMPK pathway via a decrease in hepatic energy state. J Clin Invest. 2010, 120: 2355-2369. 10.1172/JCI40671.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Foretz M, Hébrard S, Leclerc J, Zarrinpashneh E, Soty M, Mithieux G, Sakamoto K, Andreelli F, Viollet B: Metformin inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice independently of the LKB1/AMPK pathway via a decrease in hepatic energy state. J Clin Invest. 2010, 120: 2355-2369. 10.1172/JCI40671.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference El-Mir MY, Nogueira V, Fontaine E, Avéret N, Rigoulet M, Leverve X: Dimethylbiguanide inhibits cell respiration via an indirect effect targeted on the respiratory chain complex I. J Biol Chem. 2000, 275: 223-228. 10.1074/jbc.275.1.223.CrossRefPubMed El-Mir MY, Nogueira V, Fontaine E, Avéret N, Rigoulet M, Leverve X: Dimethylbiguanide inhibits cell respiration via an indirect effect targeted on the respiratory chain complex I. J Biol Chem. 2000, 275: 223-228. 10.1074/jbc.275.1.223.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Protti A, Russo R, Tagliabue P, Vecchio S, Singer M, Rudiger A, Foti G, Rossi A, Mistraletti G, Gattinoni L: Oxygen consumption is depressed in patients with lactic acidosis due to biguanide intoxication. Crit Care. 2010, 14: R22-10.1186/cc8885.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Protti A, Russo R, Tagliabue P, Vecchio S, Singer M, Rudiger A, Foti G, Rossi A, Mistraletti G, Gattinoni L: Oxygen consumption is depressed in patients with lactic acidosis due to biguanide intoxication. Crit Care. 2010, 14: R22-10.1186/cc8885.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Protti A, Fortunato F, Monti M, Vecchio S, Gatti S, Comi GP, Giuseppe RD, Gattinoni L: Metformin overdose, but not lactic acidosis per se, inhibits oxygen consumption in pigs. Crit Care. 2012, 16: R75-10.1186/cc11332.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Protti A, Fortunato F, Monti M, Vecchio S, Gatti S, Comi GP, Giuseppe RD, Gattinoni L: Metformin overdose, but not lactic acidosis per se, inhibits oxygen consumption in pigs. Crit Care. 2012, 16: R75-10.1186/cc11332.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
12.
go back to reference Seidowsky A, Nseir S, Houdret N, Fourrier F: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis: a prognostic and therapeutic study. Crit Care Med. 2009, 37: 2191-2196. 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181a02490.CrossRefPubMed Seidowsky A, Nseir S, Houdret N, Fourrier F: Metformin-associated lactic acidosis: a prognostic and therapeutic study. Crit Care Med. 2009, 37: 2191-2196. 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181a02490.CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Protti A, Carré J, Frost MT, Taylor V, Stidwill R, Rudiger A, Singer M: Succinate recovers mitochondrial oxygen consumption in septic rat skeletal muscle. Crit Care Med. 2007, 35: 2150-2155. 10.1097/01.ccm.0000281448.00095.4d.CrossRefPubMed Protti A, Carré J, Frost MT, Taylor V, Stidwill R, Rudiger A, Singer M: Succinate recovers mitochondrial oxygen consumption in septic rat skeletal muscle. Crit Care Med. 2007, 35: 2150-2155. 10.1097/01.ccm.0000281448.00095.4d.CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Hinke SA, Martens GA, Cai Y, Finsi J, Heimberg H, Pipeleers D, Van de Casteele M: Methyl succinate antagonises biguanide-induced AMPK-activation and death of pancreatic beta-cells through restoration of mitochondrial electron transfer. Br J Pharmacol. 2007, 150: 1031-1043.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Hinke SA, Martens GA, Cai Y, Finsi J, Heimberg H, Pipeleers D, Van de Casteele M: Methyl succinate antagonises biguanide-induced AMPK-activation and death of pancreatic beta-cells through restoration of mitochondrial electron transfer. Br J Pharmacol. 2007, 150: 1031-1043.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Metformin overdose: time to move on
Authors
Jean-Christophe Orban
Eric Fontaine
Carole Ichai
Publication date
01-10-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 5/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc11664

Other articles of this Issue 5/2012

Critical Care 5/2012 Go to the issue