There are structures in our body made up of proteins that we call enzymes. One of them, lactate dehydrogenase, which we know by the abbreviation LDH, is responsible for converting the sugars we take into our body through food into energy. In other words, it is extremely important for us, but what makes it really important is that when it is high in the blood test, it indicates an organ or cell damage.
The LDH enzyme is found in organs such as muscle groups, liver and heart, but when an organ or cell is damaged, it enters the blood. In this case, when it is high in the blood test, it starts to cause concern because it indicates that there are some risks to our health and may require treatment due to the disease. Let’s examine what LDH is and what it means to be low and high in blood.
First of all, what is LDH?
Lactate dehydrogenase, LDH for short; It is an enzyme found in different proportions in almost every cell in our body. It is mostly found in the heart, liver and muscle groups. LDH in the blood is a condition that needs to be evaluated separately, because mixing this enzyme into the blood means damage to an organ or cell.
What does LDH do?
The primary task of the LDH enzyme in our body is to process the sugar we receive through food and convert it into energy. The LDH value, which we encounter in the blood test, has the function of a messenger. When a high LDH level is detected in the blood test, it means that there is damage to the organs and cells where it is concentrated.
What should be the normal value of LDH?
- Between 225 – 600 U/L in 0 – 1 month old babies
- Between 100 – 400 U/L in infants aged 1 – 12 months
- Between 100 – 300 U / L in children aged 1 – 3 years
- Between 100 – 250 U / L in children aged 4 – 18 years
- Between 90 – 220 U/L in adult females
- Between 90 – 240 U/L in adult males
LDH types and their meanings:
- When LDH-1 (4H), which is intensely found in the heart and kidneys, is high, it indicates damage to the organs in which it is located.
- When LDH-2 (3H1M), which is found intensely in red blood cells, is high, it indicates damage and destruction in the cells it is in.
- When LDH-3 (2H2M), which is concentrated in the lung, is high, it indicates damage to the organ tissues where it is located.
- When LDH-4 (1H3M), which is intensely found in the kidneys, lymph nodes and white blood cells, is high, it indicates damage to the organ or cell where it is located.
- When LDH-5 (4M), which is intensely found in the liver and muscle tissues, is high, it indicates damage to the organ tissues where it is located.
What is low LDH, what does it mean?
If your LDH ratio in blood test results is below normal values, this is called low LDH. Low LDH is not a very common condition and even if it is seen, it is not considered very important. Excessive intake of vitamin C can lower the rate of LDH. Symptoms such as muscle pain and cramping may occur. Low LDH can only make sense when it is evaluated together with differences in other values and diseases.
What does LDH elevation mean?
If your LDH ratio in the blood test results is above normal values, this is called elevated LDH. Small changes in your LDH values are often insignificant. Such an increase can be seen when you exercise excessively. However, if it is much higher than normal, it may indicate different diseases.
Why does LDH rise? Causes of high LDH:
- Testicular cancer
- lymphoma cancer
- cerebrovascular problems
- Stroke
- SVO
- encephalitis
- Liver ailments
- kiss disease
- Kidney ailments
- Meningitis
- Heart diseases
- Ischemia
- pulmonary embolism
- pneumonia
- muscular dystrophy
- bone fractures
- pancreatitis
- muscle injury
- hemolytic anemia
- Hypotension
- Pernicious anemia
- infectious diseases
- Different chronic diseases
- drug use
Conditions and diseases that cause high LDH are generally like this. The list is quite long, but don’t worry right away. The reason for the LDH enzyme to mix with your blood can sometimes be an extremely simple situation. Therefore, do not act without the evaluation of your doctor.
How does LDH level decrease?
When your LDH ratio is higher than normal values in the results of the blood test, your doctor may also want to look at the ALT, AST and ALP results. Because high LDH can be the first sign of many different diseases. Only if your LDH value is high and not much higher than normal may not even require any treatment in some cases.
In case of high LDH, unfortunately, there are not many precautions you can take on your own. If there is a disease that raises your LDH value, your doctor may suggest a lifestyle change. In most cases, limiting alcohol and discontinuing medications that cause this condition will work.
In order to lower the LDH elevation, your physician first detects the disease that causes this elevation. Once the disease is diagnosed, an appropriate treatment is followed. If it’s a simple condition or illness, your LDH values will drop to the normal range in a short time. Your doctor may request regular follow-up.
How is the LDH test done?
No special test is done to measure your LDH level in your blood. During the standard complete blood count test, the LDH value will also be measured in your blood. Most of the time, you are not asked to make any other preparations other than to go hungry. However, if your doctor suspects different diseases and different values will be measured together with LDH, there may be situations that you should pay attention to beforehand.
To see if there is tissue damage in your different organs; Your doctor may order an LDH test to see if you have hemolytic anemia, kidney and liver disorders, and to see if you have developed a certain type of cancer. If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions and diseases, you may be asked to give blood regularly to monitor your LDH value.
We talked about low and high levels of LDH, which converts sugar into energy but signals organ and cell damage when it comes out in the blood, and what it does. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Do not forget that you should get the most accurate and specific information about your LDH value from a specialist physician, as in all health issues.
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