Pyruvic Acid Blood Test

A Pyruvic Acid Blood Test is used to measure the amount of pyruvate in the blood.

Description

Pyruvic acid is useful in assessing oxygen deprivation and provides an index of the severity of circulatory failure. Increased pyruvic acid levels have been associated with diabetes mellitus, vitamin deficiencies, uremia, congestive heart failure, liver diseases, muscular dystrophy, thiamine deficiency, and neoplastic conditions. This test is also used to screen possible disorders of mitochondrial metabolism, when used in conjunction with blood lactate collected at the same time to determine the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio. Symptoms associated with Pyruvic acid test typically include limited eye movement, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, lactic acidosis, poor coordination, hearing loss, impaired cognitive ability, loss of head control, poor appetite, vomiting, irritability, seizures, growth delay, developmental delay, mental retardation, recurrent infection, and dementia.