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The Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) test measures the levels of LDH enzyme in your blood. LDH is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in energy production within cells. It is found in many tissues throughout the body, including the heart, liver, kidneys, muscles, brain, and lungs.

Why You Need It:

• Evaluate Tissue Damage: High levels of LDH can indicate damage to tissues and organs since the enzyme is released into the bloodstream when cells are injured or break down.
• Monitor Disease Progression: LDH levels can be useful in monitoring conditions such as heart attacks, liver disease, muscle injury, and certain cancers.
• Diagnose and Monitor Hemolysis: Elevated LDH is often seen in hemolysis, where red blood cells break down prematurely.

How It Works:

LDH is released into the bloodstream when tissues are damaged. This test measures the total amount of LDH in your blood. Elevated LDH levels can indicate the presence of several conditions, but it is not specific to any one disease, so it is often used in conjunction with other tests to diagnose or monitor a condition.

Normal Range:

The normal range for LDH can vary slightly depending on the lab, but it typically falls between 125 to 220 U/L (units per liter) for adults. Elevated levels outside this range may suggest:

• Muscle damage (e.g., from trauma or intense exercise).
• Liver disease (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis).
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction).
• Lung diseases (e.g., pneumonia, pulmonary embolism).
• Blood disorders (e.g., hemolytic anemia).
• Cancers (e.g., lymphoma, leukemia).
• Kidney damage (e.g., acute renal failure).

Why It’s Done:

• Diagnose Tissue Injury: The LDH test is often used to detect and monitor damage to tissues and organs. It is particularly helpful in diagnosing conditions like heart attack, liver disease, and muscle injury.
• Monitor Cancer Progression: LDH levels can be elevated in some cancers, and the test may be used to monitor treatment response or disease progression.
• Detect Hemolysis: LDH is released when red blood cells are destroyed, so elevated levels can be a sign of hemolytic anemia or other blood disorders.

Key Points:

• High LDH levels alone do not provide a specific diagnosis, but they indicate tissue damage.
• The test is usually ordered when a healthcare provider suspects organ damage, muscle injury, or blood cell breakdown.
• The LDH test may be used alongside other tests (like AST, ALT, CK, etc.) to narrow down the cause of elevated LDH levels.