[Serum concentration of lactate in diabetic patients treated with biguanides in relationship to renal function (author's transl)].

Lactate, pyruvate, creatinine, urea, blood sugar and the serum concentration of phenformin or buformin were analyzed in the venous blood of a total of 90 diabetics who received biguanides regularly for at least one month. The creatinine clearance as well as the lactate-pyruvate quotient were computed. Age, body weight and size as well as duration of medication were recorded. Twenty-three diabetics who did not receive biguanides were used for control. Almost all patients revealed a mostly minor hyperlactatemia which was also observed in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups. There was no relationship between renal function, the serum lactate level and the biguanide concentration.