Serum levels of total LDH (T.LDH) and LDH
isoenzymes in 145 untreated
leukemia patients were examined and compared with those of 150 age and sex matched healthy individuals (controls) and 77
anemia patients (pathological controls). As compared to the controls, T.LDH,
LDH-1,
LDH-2,
LDH-3,
LDH-4 and LDH-5 values were significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in untreated
leukemia patients. T.LDH,
LDH-1,
LDH-2 and
LDH-3 levels were significantly raised in
anemia patients as compared to the controls. A significant increase in the levels of T.LDH,
LDH-2,
LDH-3 and
LDH-4 was observed in untreated
leukemia patients as compared to the
anemia patients.
LDH-4 was most specific (81.0%), while
LDH-2 was the most sensitive (84.0%) marker for
leukemia. Mean values of all the markers were higher in
leukemia patients with persistent leukemic activity/accelerated leukemic phase as compared to the patients in remission. Serum levels of T.LDH as well as all the five
isoenzymes were significantly lower in
leukemia patients in remission as compared to untreated
leukemia patients. The study indicated that alterations in T.LDH and its
isoenzymes are useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of
leukemia.