Is your LDH level high in your blood report? (LDH Test) Don't worry, let's find out!

Have you ever picked up a blood test report and seen some of the values ​​in it with the word "High" written in big letters? It's normal to feel a little scared when you see something like that. Similarly, sometimes you can see that the "LDH" value in your report is high. So many people get worried when they see this. But don't be afraid. A high LDH value does not always mean that there is a serious illness. Today, we will talk about what this LDH is, what this test looks for, and its values ​​in a simple way that you can understand.

Let's first see, what is LDH?

Simply put, LDH is an enzyme . An enzyme is a protein that speeds up chemical processes in our bodies. It's like a machine that speeds up work in a factory. The main function of the LDH enzyme is to convert the sugar in the food we eat, called glucose, into energy for our cells. We call this process cellular respiration.

This LDH enzyme is present in almost every tissue in our body, but it is especially abundant in the muscles, liver, kidneys, and red blood cells .

Now think about it, when new cells are formed in our body, old, dead cells are removed, right? During that normal process, some LDH is released from those tissues into the blood. So, it's completely normal to have some LDH in your blood sample.

So what is an LDH test?

An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in your blood or other body fluids. This can give your doctor an idea of ​​whether any tissue damage has occurred.

The reason is that when a tissue in our body is damaged due to an injury, injury, or disease, more LDH than normal is released into the blood from those damaged cells. So if your LDH level is high, it is a signal that some tissue in the body has been damaged.

This LDH test is called by several other names.

• LD test
• Lactic dehydrogenase
• Lactic acid dehydrogenase

Why would a doctor tell you to do this LDH test?

There are several reasons why a doctor might order an LDH test. This is often done in conjunction with other symptoms to find out more information. Let's take a look at the main reasons.

If you are unsure about why you were asked to have this test, it is best to ask your doctor.

Let's learn how to do this test.

This is a very simple, routine blood test. There is nothing you need to do to prepare for it.

This is what usually happens:

1. You will be seated in a chair and a nurse or trained person will find a vein in your arm. Most often, the blood will be drawn from the inside of your elbow.

2. Once you find the spot, clean it thoroughly and apply a disinfectant.

3. Then, a small needle is inserted into the vein and a small amount of blood is drawn. At this time, you may feel a slight stinging sensation, like an ant biting your urine .

4. After collecting the required amount of blood into a test tube, remove the needle and place a piece of cotton wool over the area where the blood has been drawn and press down.

5. Then apply a small amount of plaster to the area and you're done. The entire process shouldn't take more than five minutes.

In some special cases, it may be necessary to check LDH levels in other places, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid, or peritoneal fluid. In such cases, your doctor will explain the specific procedure to you.

How to understand the LDH report?

You will usually receive the report within a day or two. In a hospital or emergency room (ETU), results may be available within a few hours.

The report usually contains information like this:

• Test name (LDH)
• Your result (your LDH value)
• Normal Range
• Whether your result is normal, high, or low

What are normal LDH levels?

This normal range may vary slightly from lab to lab, but in general, normal values ​​are as follows:

• Men: 135 – 225 units per liter (U/L)
• Women: 135 – 214 units per liter (U/L)

The average LDH level in young children is higher than in adults . That's normal.

What does an elevated LDH level mean?

If the LDH level is higher than normal, it means that there is damage to some tissue in the body. This damage can be due to a short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) illness, infection, or accident.

Here are some reasons why LDH levels may be elevated:

• Anemia
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease
• Liver disease
• Muscle injury
• Bone fracture
• Heart attack
• Pancreatitis
• Some infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, mononucleosis, and HIV
• Some types of cancer: such as lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Can LDH be increased for non-serious reasons?

Yes, it definitely can!

There are other common causes that can sometimes cause LDH levels to rise.

• Intense exercise: Imagine you worked out hard at the gym yesterday. Even minor muscle damage can temporarily increase LDH levels.
• Certain medications: Certain medications, such as aspirin and anesthetics, can also cause changes in LDH levels.
• Errors in blood sampling: Sometimes, when blood is drawn or transported to the lab, some red blood cells can break down (hemolysis). This can cause the LDH value on the report to be higher than it actually is.

So, when your doctor looks at your report, he or she will consider many things, such as your symptoms, the medications you are taking, and your medical history. If necessary, he or she will order further tests to pinpoint the cause.

Should we also know about the low LDH value?

It is very rare for LDH levels to be lower than normal. This can be caused by several rare genetic conditions. Also, excessive vitamin C intake can sometimes cause low LDH levels.

Things to ask your doctor

If your LDH level is elevated, discuss any questions you have with your doctor. For example, you might ask questions like:

• What do you suspect is the cause of my high LDH level?
• Do I need to do more tests to find out the exact cause of this?
• (If you are a cancer patient) What does this LDH level say about the status of my disease?
• Can this LDH value tell me how my body is responding to my treatments?