Lactic acidosis in status asthmaticus - Three cases and review of the literature

Lactic acidosis is a frequent laboratory finding in patients with severe ex acerbations of asthma. The pathogenesis of lactic acidosis in asthma is not well understood, but it has been presumed, by some, to be generated by fat iguing respiratory muscles. We herein report the cases of three patients wi th status asthmaticus and lactic acidosis despite pharmacologic muscle rela xation. No common etiologies were found for lactic acidosis that abated aft er bronchospasm improved and the intensity of pharmacologic therapies was r educed. We review the literature describing lactic acidosis with asthma and discuss mechanisms by which lactic acidosis may occur in patients with sta tus asthmaticus.