ABSTRACT
Lactic acidosis indicates a severe metabolic derangement, with significant associated mor-
tality. The term “lactic acidosis” actually embodies two separate pathologic processes:
hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidemia. Because the most common cause of hyperlacta-
temia, cellular hypoxia, may simultaneously cause acidemia, the combined term lactic
acidosis is commonly used to describe any condition of increased lactate levels. Despite
this usage, many causes of hyperlactatemia are not associated with acidemia.
