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Lactate dehydrogenase test
LDH test; Lactic acid dehydrogenase test
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a protein that helps produce energy in the body. An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in the blood.
How the Test is Performed
A blood sample is needed.
Blood sample
Venipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.
How to Prepare for the Test
Your health care provider may ask you to stop taking certain medicines that may affect your test results. Medicines that can increase LDH measurements include numbing medicines (anesthetics), aspirin, clofibrate, fluorides, mithramycin, opioids, and procainamide. If you take any of these, tell your provider before your test.
How the Test will Feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.
Why the Test is Performed
LDH is most often measured to check for tissue damage. LDH is in many body tissues, especially the heart, liver, kidney, muscles, brain, blood cells, and lungs.
Other conditions for which the test may be done include:
-
Low red blood cell count (
anemia
)
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...
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Cancer, including blood cancer (
leukemia
) or lymph cancer (lymphoma)
Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are ...
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Normal Results
Normal value range is 105 to 333 international units per liter (IU/L).
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A higher-than-normal level may indicate:
- Blood flow deficiency (ischemia)
-
Heart attack
Heart attack
Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...
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Hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...
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Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Mononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Leukemia or lymphoma
-
Liver disease
(for example,
hepatitis
)
Liver disease
The term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain, yellowing ...
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- Muscle injury
-
Muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue (
muscular dystrophy
)
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders that cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue, which get worse over time.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - New abnormal tissue formation (usually cancer)
- Pancreatitis
-
Stroke
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Tissue death
If your LDH level is high, your provider may recommend an LDH isoenzymes test to determine the location of any tissue damage.
LDH isoenzymes test
The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme test checks how much of the different types of LDH are in the blood.
Risks
Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling lightheaded
- Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
References
Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. L. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures . 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013: chap L.
Ferri FF. Laboratory tests and interpretation of results. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2014 . Philadelphia: PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2014: Section IV.
Review Date: 1/31/2016
Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
