SERUM LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE AND ITS ISOENZYMES IN LEUKEMIA PATIENTS -POSSIBLE ROLE IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MONITORING

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 (pa thological controls). As compared to (he 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 contr ols. A significant increase in (he levels of T.LDH, LDH-2, LDH-3 and L DH-4 was observed in untreated leukemia patients as compared to the an emia patients. LDH-4 was most specific (81.0%), while LDH-2 was the mo st sensitive (84.0%) marker for leukemia Mean values of all the marker s were higher in leukemia patients with persistent leukemic activity/a ccelerated leukemic phase as compared to the patients in remission. Se rum levels of T.LDH as well as all the five lsoenymes were significant ly lower in leukemia patients in remission as compared to untreated le ukemia patients. The study indicated that alterations in T.LDH and its isoenzymes are useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of leuke mia