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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Mapping Metabolism: Monitoring Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity Directly in Tissue
Published on: June 21, 2018
Serum lactate dehydrogenase level in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
1Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Insights
Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are significantly elevated in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Monitoring LDH helps assess treatment response and predict outcomes during chemotherapy induction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Hematology
Background:
- Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common pediatric malignancy.
- Accurate diagnostic and prognostic markers are crucial for effective management.
- Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme released from cells, potentially indicating tissue damage or high cell turnover.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
- To assess the correlation between serum LDH levels and treatment response during induction chemotherapy.
- To determine the utility of serum LDH as a biomarker for diagnosing childhood ALL and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Serum LDH levels were measured in 44 children with ALL (aged 1-15 years) at admission, day 14, and day 29 of induction therapy.
- A control group of 25 healthy children without ALL was included for comparison.
- Correlations were analyzed between serum LDH levels, white blood cell count, platelet count, and blast cell percentages.
Main Results:
- Admission serum LDH levels were significantly higher in children with ALL compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- Serum LDH levels significantly decreased by day 14 and day 29 of induction, paralleling reductions in WBC count and blast percentages (p < 0.001).
- A significant increase in platelet count was observed by day 29, coinciding with a significant decrease in serum LDH (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Serum LDH is a valuable enzymatic tool for the presumptive diagnosis of childhood ALL.
- Decreased serum LDH levels during induction therapy indicate a positive response to chemotherapy.
- Serum LDH monitoring can aid in assessing treatment efficacy and predicting remission induction in pediatric ALL.
Abstract:
Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was estimated in 44 childhood (age range 1-15 years) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on admission, day 14 and day 29 of induction. Another 25 children without ALL were included as control. On admission, the level of serum LDH was significantly high in ALL cases than control (p < 0.001). Total WBC count was significantly decreased along with serum LDH level at day 14 and day 29 of induction (p < 0.001). A significant rise of platelet count was observed at day 29 of induction in relation to significant decrease of serum LDH level (p < 0.001). A significant decrease of peripheral and bone marrow blast cell percentages were also observed at day 29 of induction along with significant decrease level of serum LDH (p < 0.001). So, the measurement of serum LDH level can be accepted as an enzymatic tool for presumption of childhood ALL and the response to chemotherapy during induction of remission.
