Refractory Hyperlactatemia and Hypoglycemia in an Adult with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Warburg Effect

Abstract

Lactate is a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis, and hyperlactatemia is commonly seen in critically ill patients. We report a case of an elderly male presenting with undifferentiated constitutional symptoms, anemia, thrombocytopenia, severe lactic acidosis, refractory hypoglycemia, and a newly detected abdominal mass. A dedicated workup ruled out infectious etiologies and revealed metastatic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This study explores etiologies of type B lactic acidosis in oncology patients, with a focus on Warburg’s effect, and its potential for prognostication.

Keywords

• hyperlactatemia
• warburg effect
• metabolic acidosis
• oncological complications
• non-hodgkin’s lymphoma