Chronic lactic acidosis in a patient with cancer: therapy and metabolic consequences.

Lactic acidosis is a life-threatening disorder in some cases. Treatment should be directed at the primary cause. Sodium bicarbonate should be added if the acidosis is very severe, or if the rate of hydrogen ion production is very rapid and not controlled. In contrast, with moderate degrees of steady state lactic acidosis and poor dietary intake, the risks of therapy with sodium bicarbonate or dichloroacetate may actually outweigh the benefits in a cachectic patient unless a dietary glucose and/or protein load is given.