pituitrin and Acidosis--Lactic

Vasopressin is a potent vasopressor used for improving organ perfusion during cardiac arrest, septic and catecholamine-resistant shock; with reference to this, it is useful for the treatment of vasoplegic shock because, restoring organ perfusion pressure by contraction of vascular smooth muscle through a non-catecholamine receptor pathway, it can be employed when catecholamines are ineffective. A 49-yr-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department after having intentionally taken 95.2g of metformin, 1.6g of pioglitazone and 40 UI of insulin glargine in a suicide attempt. Despite fluid resuscitation, CVVHDF (continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration) treatment, norepinephrine and epinephrine infusion, she developed a severe lactic acidosis and a catecholamines-refractive vasodilatory shock. Only the vasopressin infusion, in association with catecholamines, gradually stabilized the patient's hemodynamic status.

Topics: Acidosis, Lactic; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Metformin; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins

Topics: Acidosis, Lactic; Acute Disease; Administration, Intravenous; Adult; Aged; Alcoholism; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bicarbonates; Comorbidity; Confusion; Glasgow Coma Scale; Humans; Hyperlactatemia; Hypotension; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Norepinephrine; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Insufficiency; Tachycardia; Thiamine; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins; Vitamin B Complex

A 72-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus was brought to the ER with metformin-associated lactic acidosis. She received continuous hemofiltration and hemodialysis, but the laboratory analyses showed no improvement. She died 11 hours after admission. Metformin is minimally bound to proteins and is readily dialyzable, but a prolonged period of dialysis is required, because metformin has a very large distribution volume and is distributed to multiple compartments. The peak blood metformin level was 432 mg/L in this case, which is one of the highest metformin concentrations ever reported, and eight hours of hemodialysis were not sufficient to reduce the serum level.

Topics: Acidosis, Lactic; Aged; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Fatal Outcome; Female; Fluid Therapy; Hemodiafiltration; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Metformin; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins

Topics: Acidosis, Lactic; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antidiuretic Agents; Drug Overdose; Epinephrine; Glucose; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Male; Metformin; Middle Aged; Norepinephrine; Sodium Bicarbonate; Suicide, Attempted; Treatment Outcome; Vasopressins

Endocrinologic and metabolic changes after brain death (BD) have not yet been investigated in a validated animal model. Therefore, the effects of BD on hormonal and metabolic function were studied in 10 dogs (23 to 31 kg).. BD was induced by intracranial pressure increase and validated neuropathologically. Plasma concentrations of pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and pancreatic hormones were measured pre/post BD. The results are expressed as mean (+/- SEM).. A Cushing reflex and diabetes insipidus occurred after BD. Elevated catecholamine levels were documented after 15 minutes whereas the pituitary gland hormones vasopressin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) decreased significantly after 15 and 45 minutes of BD respectively. Thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and glucagon decreased significantly (P < .01) from 0.58 ng/mL (+/- 0.05), 2.20 micrograms/dL (+/- 0.15), and 49.7 pg/mL (+/- 9.1) respectively to 0.34 ng/mL (+/- 0.03), 1.14 micrograms/dL (+/- 1.14), and 6.9 pg/mL (+/- 1.4) respectively 420 minutes after BD. The hematocrit increased significantly after BD and declined toward the end of all experiments. Metabolic acidosis occurred immediately after BD and at the end of the experiments.. In a simple, reproducible, and reliable animal model of BD, a catecholamine storm, vasopressin and ACTH cessation, and diabetes insipidus were consistent findings. The decrease in cortisol and vasopressin levels warrant consideration of hormonal therapy.

Topics: Acidosis, Lactic; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Brain Death; Catecholamines; Diabetes Insipidus; Disease Models, Animal; Dogs; Glucagon; Hematocrit; Male; Reproducibility of Results; Thyroid Hormones; Time Factors; Vasopressins