LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE ISOENZYMES IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH HELLP-SYNDROME

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes were serially measured in nine patients with HELLP syndrome during 01. 01. 1994-31. 01, 1995; at the time of the maxima of the total LDH we observed in 8/9 cases an absolu te and relative maximum of LDH isoenzyme 5, that predominantly origina tes from the liver and from skeleton muscles, with coincident relative decrease of LDH isoenzymes 1 and 2, which are the predominant forms i n heart muscle and erythrocytes. Therefore, total LDH can not be used as a marker of intravascular hemolysis in HELLP syndrome. The most sen sitive marker for the hemolytic component of HELLP syndrome is the mea surement of haptoglobin which should be included in laboratory screeni ng in all cases with suspected HELLP syndrome.