Evaluation of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase for liver abnormalities: a biochemical study

Background: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in nearly all living cells. LDH catalyses the conversion of lactate to pyruvic acid and back. The aim of the present study was to determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level as an indicator of liver, muscular or cancer abnormalities in patients of more than 40 years of age.Methods: Two hundred and twenty patients had been tested for LDH and liver function tests (LFTs). Creatine kinase (CK) levels were measurement only in patients who had high levels of LDH.Results: High levels of LDH had been observed in many patients suggestive as an indicator of liver abnormalities. For muscular damage, measurement of CK in patients with elevated levels of LDH. Whereas high LDH levels, as an indicator for cancer abnormalities, were found in six males and two female who had normal values of LFTs and CK.Conclusions: LDH can be regarded as a good biomarker for diagnosis of liver, muscular and cancer abnormalities. There is little variable between males and females in the elevated value of LDH. Patients who had high values of LDH and CK are proposed to have unidentified cancer abnormality.