BLOOD PYRUVATE AND LACTATE DURING FEBRILE HUMAN INFECTIONS

Reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (NADH) was oxidized at abnormally rapid rates when mixed with sera from febrile infected patients. The pyruvate in sera, acting as a substrate for NADH-dependent serum enzymes, was found to be a critical determinant for this reaction. These data, which suggested abnormal levels of pyruvate and lactate in blood during infection, were confirmed by the determination of pyruvate and lactate in whole venous blood. Abnormally elevated levels of pyruvate were frequently found in the blood of infected patients, and the levels of pyruvate and lactate were significantly higher in the acute phase blood than those from the convalescent period. These findings are discussed in relation to the host's reaction to infection. © 1968.