Lactate elimination was studied in twenty-six healthy volunteers during primed constant lactate infusion or multiple lactate injection tests, at blood lactate concentrations of 1-8 mmol-1. Although lactate elimination fitted a single exponential curve over a 30 min period, a significant correlation between the rate removal constant (KL) and the peak blood lactate concentration (Lphi) was demonstrated: loge KL = -2.43-0.132 Lphi (P = 0.003, r = 0.63, n = 20) This suggests that lactate removal does not follow first order kinetics over a wide concentration range but becomes saturated at relatively low blood lactate concentrations. Estimates of the lactate distribution volume did not differ significantly at different dosage levels, but remained in the range 270-300 ml kg-1. Skeletal muscle uptake accounted for about 26% of the infused lactate load. Seven patients with well-compensated hepatic cirrhosis were compared with a group of six control subjects during primed constant infusion tests. Fasting and steady state blood lactate concentrations achieved were similar in both groups. A significant prolongation in lactate half-life was demonstrated in the cirrhotics (18.8 +/- 1.4 min (mean +/- SEM) compared to 14.7 +/- 2.2 min; P less than 0.02). Since peripheral uptake of lactate in the forearm was similar in the two groups, this suggests that hepatic lactate uptake was impaired, due either to hepatocyte dysfunction or portal diversion.