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The Sepsis Text pp 323–338Cite as

Blood Lactate Concentrations in Sepsis

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Conclusion

An increased blood lactate concentration is clearly a marker for circulatory failure and tissue hypoxia, including that associated with sepsis. Whether other mechanisms cause or contribute to lactate elevations in sepsis remains to be clearly elucidated. Hypermetabolism induced by a systemic inflammatory state, along with dysregulation of the microcirculatory distribution of perfusion, are likely explanations for the co-existence of hyperlactatemia, a hyperdynamic circulation, and a low oxygen extraction state as seen in many cases of clinical sepsis. High blood lactate levels in the patient with sepsis should alert the clinician to consider the possibility of inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation.

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Authors
  1. James A. Kruse
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent M.D.

  2. Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Paris, France

    Jean Carlet M.D.

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, The Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI

    Steven M. Opal M.D.

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Kruse, J.A. (2002). Blood Lactate Concentrations in Sepsis. In: Vincent, JL., Carlet, J., Opal, S.M. (eds) The Sepsis Text. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47664-9_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47664-9_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-7620-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47664-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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