Blood pyruvate

Pyruvate is a product of sugar metabolism and can be oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Under normal circumstances, the blood lactic acid and pyruvate maintain a certain ratio (about 9). When the body is under anoxic metabolism, pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid, which increases the ratio. The more severe the hypoxia, the higher the ratio. The determination of serum pyruvate can infer the severity of circulatory failure.