[Acute blindness in a patient with metformin-associated lactic acidosis].

Lactic acidosis is a rare metabolic complication that can occur in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 who use metformin. We discuss a 79-year old woman with metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) and acute kidney injury based on gastroenteritis. Patient reported acute blindness which in literature is described as a rare presentation of a metabolic acidosis (regardless of its underlying cause).

Impact of a vancomycin loading dose on the achievement of target vancomycin exposure in the first 24 h and on the accompanying risk of nephrotoxicity in critically ill patients.

Background: The advocated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target for vancomycin, AUC/MIC ≥ 400 mg·h/L, may not be reached with a conventional fixed starting dose of 1000 mg in critically ill patients, but increasing the dose may cause nephrotoxicity.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a weight-based loading dose of 25 mg/kg vancomycin on PK/PD target attainment in the first 24 h (AUC0-24) in critically ill patients and to evaluate whether this increases the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Patients And Methods: A prospective observational before/after study was performed in ICU patients, comparing the percentage of vancomycin courses with AUC0-24 ≥ 400 mg·h/L and the incidence of AKI, defined as worsening of the risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function and end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) score.