Severe, self-limiting lactic acidosis and rhabdomyolysis accompanying convulsions.

A 26 year old man with no previous history of convulsions presented in status epilepticus and severe lactic acidosis. He regained consciousness and the acidosis resolved after several hours of conservative management without intravenous bicarbonate, but he developed severe myalgia associated with marked elevation of creatine kinase and moderate raised plasma creatinine levels which resolved spontaneously after 3 days. Severe lactic acidosis and rhabdomyolysis may accompany status epilepticus, although they appear to be self-limiting without important sequelae.