Description of the blood Analysis:
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase) is an enzyme involved in energy production that is found in almost all living cells. The highest concentrations are located in the heart, liver, kidneys, muscles, red blood cells, and lungs. Because LDH is present in so many tissues, it is released into the bloodstream whenever cells are damaged or destroyed by disease or injury. While it is a “non-specific” marker (it doesn’t point to one specific organ), it serves as a highly sensitive indicator of general tissue damage or cellular turnover.
What Does the Analysis Represent?
- Goal: To detect the presence of tissue damage and monitor the progression of conditions that cause cell breakdown.
- Main Application: Monitoring hemolytic anemia (where red blood cells are destroyed), evaluating certain types of cancer, assessing lung or liver disease, and tracking the severity of tissue injury.
- Biological Process: It reflects the transition of cells from healthy function to damage/death, where the cell membrane ruptures and spills its contents into the plasma.
Recommendations for the Test (General)
- Fasting: Recommended. Fasting for 8–12 hours is preferred to ensure a clean baseline.
- Physical Activity: Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before the test, as muscle strain can cause a temporary rise in LDH levels.
- Sample Integrity: The blood sample must be handled carefully. If red blood cells are ruptured during the draw (hemolysis), the LDH inside them will leak out and produce a falsely high result.
- Material: Venous blood (serum).
What Can Affect the Results?
- Hemolysis: As mentioned, even slight damage to the blood sample in the lab or during collection will invalidate the result.
- Intense Exercise: Strenuous physical exertion can significantly elevate LDH from skeletal muscles.
- Platelet Count: An extremely high platelet count can sometimes cause a false increase in LDH levels.
- Medications: Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) can sometimes lower LDH levels, while certain anesthetics and aspirin can raise them.
- Alcohol: Chronic or heavy alcohol consumption can lead to elevated LDH due to liver or muscle stress.
When to Take the Test?
- General Malaise: When a patient has vague symptoms of illness and the doctor needs to check for underlying tissue damage.
- Anemia Symptoms: Pale skin, fatigue, and shortness of breath (to check if red blood cells are being destroyed prematurely).
- Oncology Monitoring: To monitor the effectiveness of treatment for certain cancers (like lymphoma or leukemia).
- Suspected Organ Injury: If there is a suspicion of injury to the lungs, liver, or kidneys.
How to Interpret the Results?
Important: LDH is a general marker of tissue damage and requires professional interpretation to find the source. Elevated LDH: Indicates that cells in the body (heart, liver, or muscles) are being damaged or destroyed. Interpretation: Because it is non-specific, doctors use it as a signal to look for more specific issues.
Possible Further Investigations
- LDH Isoenzymes: To pinpoint the exact source of the enzyme elevation.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): To look for signs of anemia or infection.
- Bilirubin and Haptoglobin: If hemolytic anemia is suspected.
- ALT, AST, and GGT: If the damage is suspected to be in the liver.
- Chest X-ray or CT Scan: If pulmonary (lung) damage is the suspected cause.
When Does the Next Step Make Sense?
The next step is necessary whenever LDH is elevated, as it is a clear signal that “something is wrong” at the cellular level. Because it is so non-specific, the LDH result acts as a trigger for more targeted testing. A physician will look at the patient’s specific symptoms and other lab results (like liver enzymes or blood counts) to determine which organ requires further imaging or specialized diagnostics.
👉 If necessary, you can discuss the results of the analysis with a specialist, such as a Hematologist (Doctors – TAMC), Oncologist (Doctors – TAMC)