Elevated LDH
April 24th, 2019
Overview
LDH is elevated in haemolysis, and markedly in intravascular haemolysis.
As LDH is present in all tissues, its elevation is a nonspecific marker of cell damage. Elevation of specific LDH isoenzymes may point toward a specific pathology, as below.
Causes of Elevated Lactate Dehydrogenase
- Factitious (haemolysed sample)
- Heart - myocardial infarction, heart failure
- Brain - ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury
- Kidneys - nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, acute tubular necrosis, infarction
- Anaemia - haemolytic or megaloblastic
- Malignancy (especially haematological)
- Lungs - pulmonary embolism, infarction, obstructive disease, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia
- Spleen - infarction
- Pancreas - pancreatitis
- Liver - hepatitis, infarction, cirrhosis, malignancy, trauma
- Skeletal muscle - strenuous exercise, rhabdomyolysis, myositis
- Shock
- Trauma
- Hypoxia
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