Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Lactic acidosis classification
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Lactic acidosis is classified as type A and type B according to the root cause being either a shortage of oxygen or other metabolic/acquired factors respectively.
Classification
Classification
The Cohen-Woods classification (1976) categorizes causes of lactic acidosis as follows:
- Type A: Decreased perfusion or oxygenation: Occurs due to an oxygen demand/supply mismatch, causing anaerobic glycolysis. Examples include all shock states (septic, cardiogenic, hypovolemic, obstructive), regional ischemia (limb, mesenteric), seizures/convulsions, and severe cases of shivering.
- Type B: Defined as not having to do with tissue hypoxia or hypoperfusion.
- B1: Underlying diseases (sometimes causing type A) such as liver disease, malignancy, HIV, thiamine deficiency, diabetic ketoacidosis.
- B2: Medication or intoxication example metformin, epinephrine, total parenteral nutrition, ethanol.
- B3: Inborn error of metabolism, such as mitochondrial myopathy, congenital lactic acidosis.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saud Khan M.D.