The LDH test measures the amount of an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase in the blood to check for tissue damage throughout the body. The doctor can use the results of this test to diagnose and monitor certain diseases, such as lung diseases and muscle disorders.

Lactate dehydrogenase is an enzyme known as LDH.. This enzyme is present in most body tissues such as kidney, lung, heart, liver and brain..

When internal tissues are damaged, your body releases excess LDH into the bloodstream or other body fluids....Join us to learn more about the use, types, and interpretation of the LDH test in this article from GCORP LLC.

What is the use of LDH in blood tests?

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an important enzyme in the body that helps the body convert glucose from the food it eats into energy for the cells.. This process is called cellular respiration..

Enzymes are proteins that play an important role in the speed of metabolism and chemical reactions of the body.... Some substances are made by enzymes and others are decomposed.... The highest concentration of LDH is in muscles, kidneys, red blood cells and liver...

The body gets rid of dead cells by forming new cells... this process causes the release of the LDH enzyme and its increase in the blood.... Therefore, the use of LDH in blood tests can be considered to evaluate the damaged level of body tissues.

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Types of LDH in blood test

The LDH enzyme is present in different tissues of the body, but each organ has a different structure of this important protein.... After damage to the body tissues, the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase is released in the blood, and with the help of the LDH test result, the amount of tissue damage can be evaluated..

In order to know which tissue damage the result of the LDH test indicates, you should familiarize yourself with the types of LDH in the blood test.... This enzyme includes 5 different types that have different structures:

• LDH1 enzyme: It is mostly concentrated in heart muscle and red blood cells.
• LDH2 enzyme: it is mostly concentrated in the reticuloendothelial system (liver, spleen, lung) and white blood cells.
• LDH3 enzyme: the highest amount is present in the lungs.
• LDH4 enzyme: There are more in kidneys, pancreas and placenta.
• LDH5 enzyme: the highest amount is found in the liver and skeletal muscles.

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When is the LDH test done?

The LDH test can help diagnose and investigate several diseases... The most common uses of LDH in blood tests include the following:

• Check if there is tissue damage in the body or not.
• Management of certain conditions such as anemia, chronic disease and various infections that can cause tissue damage.
• Diagnosis and examination of the severity of certain types of cancer
• Evaluation of chemotherapy performance in certain types of cancer
• Evaluation of treatment and the effect of prescribed drugs

Consultation with a hematology doctor can guide you better.

LDH test conditions

The lactate dehydrogenase test is a type of blood test that does not require special care before performing.... It is enough to inform your doctor about the medications you are taking..

To take a sample, the nurse finds a suitable vein in the elbow, and after disinfecting the desired area on the skin, a special needle for blood collection is inserted into the vein... In some cases, it is possible to take samples from other body fluids such as lungs or spinal cord.

It is good to know that the LDH test can be done at home.... One of the services of GCORP LLC is to perform all kinds of blood tests at home.... Just go to the GCORP LLC website and make an appointment to do the LDH test.... GCORP LLC experts will contact you as soon as possible for further coordination.

What diseases does the LDH test detect?

The doctor uses the LDH test to diagnose internal body tissue diseases.. Also, some diseases and conditions can lead to tissue damage that the LDH test helps to diagnose...

They are:

• Hemolytic anemia Muscular dystrophy
• Liver disease
Kidney disease
• Pulmonary disease
• Specific infections
• Certain types of cancer (lymphoma or leukemia)
• Stroke symptoms
• Incorrect function of heart and lung muscles
• breathing problems

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To interpret the LDH test or get an online consultation, you can contact Dr. Hematology GCORP LLC.

Interpretation of LDH test

The result of the lactate dehydrogenase test will be different based on age and gender... Also, the result of this test can be slightly different from one laboratory to another... Therefore, the interpretation of the LDH test by a specialist is very important.

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Normal value of LDH

You can see the normal amount of this enzyme in men and women in the following table:

Critical value of LDH

If the LDH result in the blood test shows a number higher than 500 for adults, it should be considered a critical value.

The cause of high lactate dehydrogenase enzyme

The critical value of LDH in a blood test can indicate a type of tissue damage caused by chronic diseases, trauma or some infections.... Other conditions that increase this enzyme in the blood include:

• Heart attack
meningitis Mononucleosis
• HIV disease
• Encephalitis
testicular cancer
• Leukemia
Pancreatitis
• Bone fracture
• Liver or kidney disease
anemia Muscular dystrophy

Symptoms of high LDH

The LDH enzyme has a great effect on the functioning of the body's metabolism and the function of the nerves of the internal organs.... If the internal nerves are healthy, the pain signals are correctly sent from the muscles to the brain...

If the level of this enzyme increases in the body, the doctor is sure of internal tissue damage. The symptoms of high LDH appear in the body as follows:

• Feeling pain in one leg
• Burning or itching sensation in the body
• Lack of easy movement of muscles or organs
• Existence of tremors in the limbs and their lack of coordination during movement
• increasing or decreasing sweating
• Feeling of bladder fullness
• Prolonged headaches
• Skin numbness

If you have such symptoms, see a hematologist.

The cause of low lactate dehydrogenase enzyme

There is a possibility that the result of the test will show the deficiency of this enzyme is very rare.

This genetic problem is known as lactate dehydrogenase A deficiency (glycogen storage disease XL) or LDH-B deficiency... However, it should be noted that if you have consumed a lot of vitamin C before the LDH test, there is a possibility of a false low level of this enzyme in the blood..

Symptoms of low LDH

Lack of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in the body is characterized by the following symptoms:

• fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Exercise intolerance
• Decomposition of muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)

Drugs effective in LDH test

Some factors such as damage to red blood cells during blood sampling can cause errors in LDH test results. Meanwhile, the use of drugs such as aspirin, anesthetics or various drugs increases the level of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in the body..

On the other hand, vitamin C, which has ascorbic acid in its structure, reduces this enzyme. Also, alcohol consumption before the LDH test can cause various fluctuations in the level of lactate dehydrogenase.

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LDH test result

LDH test is a type of blood test that checks the high level of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in the body. This test is done to evaluate the damage to the internal tissues of the body.

In this article from GCORP LLC, we examined the factors affecting the increase or decrease of LDH in the blood test... Which disease has the doctor prescribed for you to diagnose and treat?... Share your opinions and experiences with us.

FAQs of LDH test