Blood Lactate and Ketone Body Concentrations in Salicylate Intoxication

Abstract

1 Blood concentrations of lactate, ketone bodies and non-esterified (free) fatty acids were measured in 45 adult patients on admission to the poisoning treatment centre, with salicylate and mixed salicylate-sedative/ethanol poisoning. 2 Nine patients had blood lactate concentrations above 2 mmol/l and six patients had ketone-body concentrations greater than 1 mmol/l. 3 Eight of the nine patients with hyperlactacidaemia had mixed salicylate/ethanol or sedative poisoning, whereas four of the six patients with hyperketonaemia had pure salicylate poisoning. 4 No direct correlation was found between the presence of these metabolic disturbances and the severity of poisoning. 5 Since only one patient was found with organic acid concentration in the blood exceeding 5 mmol/l, it is concluded that concomitant endogenous acidosis rarely contributes to the acid-base disturbance seen in salicylate poisoning in adults.