Background: Repeated use of inhaled β2 agonists is common in asthma or COPD exacerbations. It can lead to hyperlactatemia.
Case reports: We report two asthmatic patients who presented in the emergency department for an asthma exacerbation. The first patient developed hyperlactatemia at 3.9 mmol/L and the second patient developed hyperlactatemia at 5.6 mmol/L after terbutaline treatment. Both patients had a favorable outcome after adjusting the aerosol dose to clinical parameters.
Discussion: Lactic acidosis induced by the use of inhaled β2 agonists is not synonymous of clinical deterioration. However, this side effect may be complicated by a tachypnea compensating for metabolic acidosis and should be known to avoid unnecessary therapeutic escalation.
Keywords: Asthma; Asthme; Hyperlactatemia; Hyperlactatémie; β2 agonist; β2-mimétique.
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