Renal Response to Acid Load after Phenformin

Abstract

Normally the kidneys respond to an acid load by increased ammonia production. In six patients with adult-type diabetes this response was reduced by a mean 50% after a therapeutic dose of phenformin. The reduced ability to compensate for acid loads may be one factor leading to metabolic acidosis and lactoacidosis sometimes associated with phenformin therapy. © 1973, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.