Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Basic Information 
Definition
Cytoplasmic enzyme found within hepatocytes, erythrocytes, and muscle (skeletal and cardiac)
Physiology
• Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) catalyzes a reversible reaction that converts pyruvate to lactate at the end of anaerobic glycolysis.
• There are five isoenzymes of LDH present in various tissues that exist as tetramers. Identification of the isoenzymes that are causing the increase in serum activity can possibly increase the diagnostic sensitivity of the test but techniques to separate and identify the isoenzymes are not widely available.
• Because of its lack of tissue specificity, it is not a commonly used test but may offer supportive evidence of muscle or hepatocellular damage.
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