LDH

Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test

LDH
Stands forLactate dehydrogenase
CategoriesMedical

LDH stands for Lactate dehydrogenase, a laboratory test abbreviation.

Enzyme present in nearly every tissue that converts pyruvate to lactate; high blood levels signal cell damage or rapid cell turnover. It is used as a marker of hemolysis, lymphoma and tumor lysis, and appears in prognostic scores for melanoma and germ cell tumors, with typical adult values around 140 to 280 U/L.

Example: LDH 1,450, haptoglobin undetectable and bilirubin rising: hemolysis confirmed.

Usage notes

Also abbreviated LD. Hemolyzed blood samples falsely raise LDH, so an isolated high result may simply reflect a difficult draw. Before troponin testing, a "flipped" ratio of the LD1 and LD2 isoenzymes was used to diagnose heart attack. Pleural fluid LDH is part of Light's criteria for separating exudates from transudates.

More laboratory test abbreviations

  • HFP – Hepatic function panel
  • Hgb – Hemoglobin
  • hs-CRP – High-sensitivity C-reactive protein
  • iCa – Ionized calcium
  • INR – International normalized ratio
  • K – Potassium
  • LDL – Low-density lipoprotein (cholesterol)
  • LE – Leukocyte esterase
  • LFT – Liver function tests
  • LIS – Laboratory information system
  • Lytes – Electrolytes
  • MCH – Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.