Serum lactate dehydrogenase activity as a biomarker in children with sickle cell disease

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Pediatrics
• Neurology

Background:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) encompasses HbSS and HbSC genotypes, each with distinct clinical manifestations.
• Cerebral vasculopathy is a significant complication in SCD, increasing the risk of stroke.
• Transcranial Doppler (TCD) scanning is a key tool for assessing cerebral blood flow velocity and identifying vasculopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in children with HbSS and HbSC.
• To determine the relationship between LDH levels and cerebral vasculopathy detected by TCD in pediatric SCD patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with HbSS (n=97) and HbSC (n=18) who underwent TCD in 2006.
• Measurement and comparison of serum LDH levels between HbSS and HbSC groups.
• Correlation analysis between LDH levels and TCD parameters in HbSS patients.

Main Results:

• Serum LDH levels were significantly higher in children with HbSS compared to HbSC (581 IU/l vs. 305 IU/l, P < 0.001).
• In HbSS patients, LDH showed significant correlations with hemoglobin, reticulocytes, aspartate transaminase, and creatinine.
• LDH levels positively correlated with TCD measurements in the middle and anterior cerebral artery circulations in children with HbSS.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum LDH is characteristic of HbSS in children.
• Serum LDH levels are associated with cerebral vasculopathy in children with HbSS.
• LDH may serve as a potential biomarker for identifying children with SCD at higher risk for cerebrovascular complications.