Case Reports Clinical Chemistry 2025 Exercise 1: A Breath-Taking Case: The Unexpected Impact of Albuterol on Lactic Acidosis

Author

Hannah Marie Brown, PhD

Department of Pathology & Immunology

Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine

St. Louis, Missouri

Primary Audience: Pathologists and Clinical Scientists
Secondary Audience: Residents, Laboratory Technologist/Scientist (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants,  Laboratory Directors and Educators

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• explain the biochemical pathway of lactate production and clearance;
• define the key biochemical features of lactic acidosis;
• describe two assays used to measure lactate, including common causes of interference; and
• explain the mechanism of lactate elevation precipitated by albuterol use in asthmatic patients.