DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE LEVELS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING AEROSOLIZED PENTAMIDINE

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are elevated in patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). In patients receiving aerosoliz ed pentamidine (AP), PCP may be less severe and present with more loca lized radiographic infiltrates. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of the serum LDH level in 11 patients developing PCP while receiving A-P . Serum LDH levels were increased 72.7 +/- 19.0 percent over mean base line levels and 76.4 +/- 26 percent over the upper limit of normal val ue for our laboratory with the development of PCP. An elevated serum L DH value remains a useful diagnostic adjunct in the patient developing PCP while receiving AP. Isolated LDH values must be interpreted with caution given the potential for marked variability in the baseline LDH value.