Elevation of blood keto acids in cerebrocortical necrosis.

Values of various alpha-keto acids in whole blood were determined from cases of cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN), a thiamine deficiency disease, and were compared with those from normal animals. Thiamine pyrophosphate is an essential cofactor in the decarboxylation of many alpha-keto acids and this was reflected in elevated values not only of pyruvic acid but of glyoxylic, alpha-keto glutaric, phenyl pyruvic and hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acids in the CCN cases.