Changes in lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes after hepatic artery ligation in patients with hepatic carcinoma

Serum activities of LDH isoenzymes as well as total LDH, GOT and GPT were determined after hepatic artery ligation in five patients with primary or metastatic liver cancer. Transaminases and total LDH activities were raised after the operation showing their peaks on the first or third postoperative days. LDH2, LDH3 and LDH5 increased substantially during the first three postoperative days. These changes became nearly normalized within two weeks after hepatic artery ligation. As control the same enzymatic activities were measured in eight patients after usual laparotomies but no significant abnormalities were observed postoperatively. Thus, liberation of not only cathodic but also anodic migrating LDH isoenzymes seems to ensue possibly after acute liver damage induced by hepatic artery ligation. This study also suggests that serial determination of LDH isoenzymes as well as its total activity could be a valuable assessment for evaluating the anti-tumor effect of hepatic artery ligation.