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Simply put, what is LDH?
Imagine that a car or a bike needs gasoline, diesel, or electricity to run.. That's how LDH, or Lactate Dehydrogenase, is a special protein that helps the billions of cells in our body to work, that is, to produce energy. In medicine, we call such proteins enzymes. This LDH enzyme is present in almost every tissue in our body. For example, these can be seen in the heart, liver, kidneys, muscles, brain, red blood cells, and lungs. Usually, these are inside the cells. So, if a tissue or cell in the body is damaged for some reason, just like bleeding when there is an injury, the LDH enzyme inside those damaged cells leaks into the blood. The LDH test measures the amount of LDH that has accumulated in the blood. That is, this is like a signal that helps us detect whether tissue somewhere in our body has been damaged.Why would a doctor tell you to do an LDH test?
There are several reasons why a doctor might ask you to have this test. It can give you an idea of not just one disease, but many things.- If you suspect that there is damage to body tissue, confirm it.
- Monitor for pre - existing medical conditions, such as anemia , liver disease , kidney disease , or an infection.
- Understand the seriousness of some cancer conditions.
- See if cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, are effective and how they affect the body.
- If fluid has accumulated in various parts of the body (chest, abdomen), find out what is causing it.
The important thing is that an elevated LDH level only means that there *may* be tissue damage somewhere in the body. To know exactly where it is and what is causing it, more tests will be needed.
The relationship between LDH and liver health
When talking about LDH levels, we can't help but talk about the liver. Because the liver is one of the largest organs in our body. It is also the place where the LDH enzyme is most abundant. When the liver is damaged, the cells in it die. Then the LDH inside those cells accumulates in the blood. That is what causes the LDH level to rise in liver diseases.- Stage 1 - Hepatitis: This is when the liver cells become inflamed. This can be caused by things like viral infections and excessive alcohol consumption . At this stage, the LDH level increases as the liver cells are damaged.
- Stage 2 - Fibrosis: As liver damage continues, scars ) begin to form on the liver. This causes the liver to become a little stiff.
- Stage 3 - Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is when this scarring progresses to a point where the liver is no longer able to function properly. At this stage, LDH levels can also be significantly elevated.
- Final Stage - Liver Failure : This is the most serious stage. Symptoms include yellowing of the eyes ( jaundice ), abdominal swelling, and nausea .
How is this LDH test done? Is it something to be afraid of?
Not at all. It's very simple. All you need to do is take a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm into a small syringe. It's the same as donating blood. It takes less than five minutes. Before this test, it's important to tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or supplements you're taking. In some special cases, LDH levels may be measured in a body fluid other than blood. For example, a lumbar puncture may be done to check for LDH in the cerebrospinal fluid to help diagnose conditions like meningitis.How do I understand the values in the report?
When talking about the values in the LDH report, the most important thing to remember is that the normal ranges can vary slightly from lab to lab. Therefore , the best person to know the exact meaning of your report is your doctor.Normal LDH levels
The normal range for an adult's LDH level is between 140 and 280 units per liter (140-280 U/L). This value may be slightly higher in children and young adults.Elevated LDH (High LDH)
An LDH level that is higher than normal is a sign that there is tissue damage somewhere in the body. This can have many causes.- Anemia
- Liver diseases (Hepatitis, Cirrhosis)
- Kidney disease
- Lung diseases
- Heart Attack
- Muscle Injury
- Bone Fracture
- Pancreatitis
- Infections such as meningitis and mononucleosis
- Some types of cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma)
Can you find out where the damage is? - LDH isoenzymes
Another important thing about LDH is that there are 5 different types of it, each with slight variations. We call these LDH isoenzymes. Each type is found in particular tissues in the body. Therefore, by looking at which of these types is increased in the blood, we can get a rough idea of which organ is damaged.| LDH type (Isoenzyme) | Mainly places |
|---|---|
| LDH-1 | Heart and red blood cells |
| LDH-2 | White blood cells (also found in the heart and red blood cells) |
| LDH-3 | Lungs |
| LDH-4 | Kidneys and pancreas |
| LDH-5 | Liver and muscles |
Low LDH
This is a very rare condition. It is not usually considered a serious problem. It can occur when there is too much vitamin C in the body or due to very rare genetic conditions.💡 Take-Home Message
- LDH is an enzyme that is released into the blood when our body's cells are damaged. Measuring this gives an indication of tissue damage in the body.
- Don't be alarmed by the sudden increase in LDH levels. It only indicates a suspicion of a disease. More tests are needed to confirm it.
- This test helps monitor various conditions such as liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and infections.
- Don't make decisions on your own based on the values in your report. Always talk to your doctor about it and get the details from him.
- LDH levels can also temporarily increase due to common causes, such as excessive exercise. Therefore, not all high levels are a sign of a serious illness.
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