[Changes in lactate dehydrogenase activity in cervical precancer and cancer]

The activity of lactate dehydrogenase in blood serum is found to be higher in cases of precancerous lesions of cervix uteri than in healthy donors. This index increases 1.6-fold in cases of malignancy, as compared with patients with precancerous lesions. Histological examination showed diagnosis to be correct in 89.2% of cases benign lesions, and in 95.9% of malignant tumors. In patients with precancer of cervix uteri, aged under 39, isozyme activity in blood serum was slightly higher than in those older then 40 years; this correlation was not observed in cases of malignant tumors. While no significant differences in isozyme activity were found in patients with tumors at stage I and II, this index was slightly elevated in the cases of stage III tumors. No correlation between the isozyme activity and type of tumor was established. After an effective therapy, the blood activity of the isozyme shows a decrease, otherwise, it is an indication of bad prognosis.