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Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Isoenzymes Test

What is a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes test?

This test measures the level of the different lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes in the blood. LDH, also known as lactic acid dehydrogenase, is a type of protein, known as an enzyme. LDH plays an important role in making your body’s energy. It is found in almost all the body’s tissues.

There are five types of LDH. They are known as isoenzymes. The five isoenzymes are found in different amounts in tissues throughout the body.

  • LDH-1: found in the heart and red blood cells
  • LDH-2: found in white blood cells. It is also found in the heart and red blood cells, but in lesser amounts than LDH-1.
  • LDH-3: found in lung tissue
  • LDH-4: found in white blood cells, kidney and pancreas cells, and lymph nodes
  • LDH-5: found in the liver and muscles of the skeleton

When tissues are damaged or diseased, they release LDH isoenzymes into the bloodstream. The type of LDH isoenzyme released depends on which tissues are damaged. This test can help your provider find out the location and cause of your tissue damage.

Other names: LD isoenzyme, lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme

What is it used for?

An LDH isoenzymes test is used to find out the location, type, and severity of tissue damage. It can help diagnose a number of different conditions including:

  • Recent heart attack
  • Anaemia
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis
  • Pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening blood clot in the lungs

Why do I need an LDH isoenzymes test?

You may need this test if your health care provider suspects that you have tissue damage based on your symptoms and/or other tests. An LDH isoenzymes test is often done as a follow-up to a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test. An LDH test also measures LDH levels, but it doesn’t provide information on the location or type of tissue damage.

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What happens during an LDH isoenzymes test?

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

You don’t need any special preparations for an LDH isoenzymes test.

Are there any risks to the test?

There is very little risk of having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruise at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

What do the results mean?

If your results showed that levels of one or more LDH isoenzymes were not normal, it probably means you have some kind of tissue disease or damage. The type of disease or damage will depend on which LDH isoenzymes had abnormal levels. Disorders that cause abnormal LDH levels include:

  • Anaemia
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Muscle injury
  • Heart attack
  • Pancreatitis
  • Infectious mononucleosis (mono)

If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

References

  1. Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner & Suddarth’s Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 2nd Ed, Kindle. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; c2014. Lactate Dehydrogenase; p. 354.
  2. Kids Health from Nemours [Internet]. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c1995–2019. Blood Test: Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) [cited 2019 Jul 3]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/test-ldh.html
  3. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.; American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2019. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD) [updated 2018 Dec 20; cited 2019 Jul 3]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/lactate-dehydrogenase-ld
  4. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Blood Tests [cited 2019 Jul 3]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-tests
  5. Papadopoulos NM. Clinical Applications of Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes. Ann Clin Lab Sci [Internet]. 1977 Nov-Dec [cited 2019 Jul 3]; 7(6): 506–510. Available from: http://www.annclinlabsci.org/content/7/6/506.full.pdf
  6. UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2019. LDH isoenzyme blood test: Overview [updated 2019 Jul 3; cited 2019 Jul 3]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/ldh-isoenzyme-blood-test
  7. University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2019. Health Encyclopedia: Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes [cited 2019 Jul 3]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=lactate_dehydrogenase_isoenzymes
  8. University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2019. Health Encyclopedia: Pulmonary Embolism [cited 2019 Jul 3]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=p01308
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