The metabolism of lactate and pyruvate in children with congenital heart disease.

Venous blood lactic acid and pyruvic acid concentrations and lactate-pyruvate ratio were studied in 42 normal adults, 16 normal children and 18 children with congenital heart disease. There was elevation of resting values in children as compared with adults, but no significant change of values of resting children with congenital heart disease as compared with normal children. Following a standard exercise test, children with patent ductus arteriosus showed a time curve comparable to normal children, but children with cyanotic heart disease showed a persisting elevation of all values. The lactate-pyruvate ratio varied inversely with calculated mean capillary blood PO2.