Letters
Lactic acidosis induced by phenformin is still a public health problem in Italy
BMJ 1997; 315 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7120.1466 (Published 29 November 1997) Cite this as: BMJ 1997;315:1466
- G Enia, Vice directora,
- M Garozzo, Research fellowa,
- C Zoccali, Directora
- a Centro di Fisiologia Clinica del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Editor—Phenformin is a well established cause of lactic acidosis, particularly in diabetic patients with renal failure. For this reason, in 1977, the drug was removed from the market in the United States. Since then, only sporadic reports of lactic acidosis induced by phenformin have been published in the North American literature, describing patients who have been prescribed the drug abroad.1 The European Union does not yet have uniform rules for marketing drugs, and though phenformin has been removed from …
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