Serum lactic dehydrogenase (SLDH) in germ cell malignancies of the ovary

Serum lactic dehydrogenase may be elevated in patients with various neoplasms. In this report the authors describe four patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies who had elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase prior to treatment. There was a consistent correlation between these marker levels and the course of the disease. These preliminary data suggest that measurement of lactic dehydrogenase in sera of patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies may be helpful in assessing the effect of therapy.