title: Serum phenformin concentrations in patients with phenformin-associated lactic acidosis.
abstract: Phenformin concentrations were measured in serum from seven patients with phenformin-associated lactic acidosis, and initial values ranging from 20 to 625 ng./ml. were obtained. Five of the seven patients had serum concentrations within the usual therapeutic range of up to 241 ng./ml. Serum phenformin concentrations were measured serially, and apparent half-lives of 5, 25, and 30 hours were obtained in three patients with serum creatinine concentrations of 1.7, 7.6, and 6.0 mg./dl., respectively. Although the half-life of phenformin was prolonged in azotemic patients, no correlation between serum creatinine concentration and serum phenformin could be demonstrated; furthermore, the severity of lactic acidosis as measured by arterial pH and lactate concentration did not correlate with the serum creatinine concentration.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010629:Phenformin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D010629:Phenformin