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Fatal metformin overdose presenting with refractory hypotension: Postmortem examination
Farzad Gheshlaghi1, Shaun Greene2, Shayan Gheshlaghi3
1 Department of Clinical Toxicology, Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Victorian Poisons Information Centre and Austin Toxicology Unit, Victoria, Australia
3 Faculty of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, Iran
| Date of Submission | 10-Mar-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 26-Apr-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 29-Apr-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 30-Sep-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
Prof. Farzad Gheshlaghi
Department of Clinical Toxicology, Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan, University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_196_20
How to cite this article:
Gheshlaghi F, Greene S, Gheshlaghi S. Fatal metformin overdose presenting with refractory hypotension: Postmortem examination. J Res Med Sci 2020;25:87 |
How to cite this URL:
Gheshlaghi F, Greene S, Gheshlaghi S. Fatal metformin overdose presenting with refractory hypotension: Postmortem examination. J Res Med Sci [serial online] 2020 [cited 2021 Jul 26];25:87. Available from: https://www.jmsjournal.net/text.asp?2020/25/1/87/296866 |
Dear Editor,
Metformin is a biguanide oral hypoglycemic agent. A 57-year-old male ingested over 100 g of metformin in a suicidal attempt. He presented with mild decreased level of consciousness, severe hypotension, and metabolic acidosis. Conventional measures including gastrointestinal decontamination, crystalloid fluid, norepinephrine infusion, and sodium bicarbonate therapy were performed. Despite aggressive intervention, the patient died. Severe hypotension and metabolic acidosis were the life-threatening presentation of severe metformin poisoning, which led to fatality. Other interventions such as hemodialysis may be lifesaving.
A 57-year-old male with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and depression was transferred to the general hospital 2 h after a deliberate ingestion of 100-g metformin. On admission, the patient was slightly lethargic, but his vital signs were stable. Blood glucose was 97 mg/dL. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest X-ray were normal; arterial blood gas, serum electrolytes, and renal function tests were also within normal ranges. Gastrointestinal decontamination was done and referred to our service. On arrival, he was confused (Glasgow Coma Scale score = 10-11) and cyanosed regardless of O2 saturation 93%, blood pressure (BP) =64/40 mmHg, heart rate = 60 b/min, and rate =22 bpm. Initial venous blood gas showed metabolic acidosis; pH: 7.14 (7.35-7.45), PO2: 38 mmHg, PCO2: 49 mmHg, O2 saturation: 53%, HCO3: 16.7 mmol/L, and base excess: 12.3 mmol/L. The lactate concentration was 16 mmol/L. Other laboratory tests including Na, K, blood urea nitrogen, Cr, complete blood count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell count, platelet count, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were within normal range.
An ECG showed an interventricular conductive defect, not present on previous ECG.
The patient received 50 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate; 1 l of N/S was infused and a norepinephrine infusion (0.1 μg/kg/min) was started and rapidly titrated until BP raised (97/50). The patient's general condition rapidly became worse and he was intubated. Shortly after, cardiac arrest occurred. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful. The length of patient's stay in our hospital was just 2 h. The deceased was transferred to the forensic medicine center and based on external and internal examination and microscopic and toxicological investigations, other causes of death were ruled out.
Metformin is a biguanide oral hypoglycemic agent. Metformin reduces lactate metabolism by overwhelming pyruvate carboxylase, and it also reduces glucose consumption and increases hepatic lactate production.[1],[2]
Lactic acidosis secondary to metformin overdose is a complication associated with significant mortality. Prognosis depends on factors other than metformin concentrations, specifically underlying conditions that reduce lactate elimination, increase lactate production, or make circulatory function worse.[3],[4]
The utility of increasing metformin clearance using renal replacement therapies in patients with preserved renal function is unproven. However, the portion of metformin contained in the intravascular space is poorly protein bound and may be removed by hemodialysis; on the other hand, increasing the intracellular vascular compartment gradient may reduce cardiac toxicity and the possibility of sudden cardiac arrest.[2],[5]
Our case illustrates the potential for sudden cardiac arrest in patients with large metformin overdose, who develops an extreme acidosis. In these cases, early utilization of extracorporeal elimination techniques to increase metformin elimination and correct acid-base disturbance may improve outcome.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Wiernsperger N. Metformin as a cellular protector; a synoptic view of modern evidences. J Nephropharmacol 2015;4:31-6.  |
| 2. | Calello DP, Liu KD, Wiegand TJ, Roberts DM, Lavergne V, Gosselin S, et al. Extracorporeal treatment for metformin poisoning: systematic review and recommendations from the extracorporeal treatments in poisoning workgroup. Crit Care Med 2015;43:1716-30. |
| 3. | Nisse P, Mathieu-Nolf M, Deveaux M, Forceville X, Combes A. A fatal case of metformin poisoning. J Toxicol 2003;41:7, 1035-6. |
| 4. | Dell'Aglio DM, Perino LJ, Kazzi Z, Abramson J, Schwartz MD, Morgan BW. Acute metformin overdose: Examining serum pH, lactate level, and metformin concentrations in survivors versus nonsurvivors: A systematic review of the literature. Ann Emerg Med 2009;54:818-23. |
| 5. | Chang CT, Chen YC, Fang JT, Huang CC. Metformin-associated lactic acidosis: Case reports and literature review. J Nephrol 2002;15:398-402. |
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