Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Point of Care Measurement of Lactate.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Di Mauro, Francesca Miranda & Schoeffler, Gretchen Lee
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
Plain-English summary
Lactate is a substance produced by the body when tissues are not getting enough oxygen, which can happen in various health issues. High levels of lactate in the blood can indicate serious conditions like infections in the abdomen, certain blood disorders, trauma, stomach problems, and brain diseases. Measuring lactate levels can help veterinarians monitor how well a pet is responding to treatments like fluids or blood transfusions. There are reliable devices available that can quickly measure lactate levels in pets. Overall, understanding lactate levels can be very helpful in diagnosing and treating sick animals.
Abstract
Lactate is generated as a consequence of anaerobic glycolysis by all tissues of the body. Increased l-lactate, the isoform produced by most mammals, reflects increased anaerobic metabolism secondary to tissue hypoperfusion or tissue hypoxia in most clinical situations, and is called type A lactic acidosis. The utility of lactate measurement and serial lactate monitoring in veterinary patients has been demonstrated in multiple studies. Blood lactate concentration is significantly elevated in many disease processes including septic peritonitis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, Babesiosis, trauma, gastric dilation and volvulus, and intracranial disease. Lactate clearance can be used to assess response to fluid therapy, cardiovascular therapeutics, and blood product transfusion in patients affected by type A lactic acidosis. Lactate concentration in peritoneal, pericardial, and synovial fluid can also be used as a diagnostic tool. Point of care analyzers such as the Lactate Pro, Lactate Scout, Accutrend, iSTAT, and Lactate Plus have been shown to be accurate lactate measurement instruments in small animal patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27451047/