Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase Levels Research Articles

Vagabond's Diabetes

To the Editor.— In 1874, Lehmann 1 made the observation that dogs which had fasted developed glycosuria upon resumption of feeding. Some years later, it was noted that vagrants developed glycosuria following hospitalization and resumption of feeding, and, hence, the term vagabond's diabetes was coined. This entity has since been called post-starvation diabetes, post-starvation hyperglycemia, or starvation diabetes. Two cases illustrate the development and natural course of this disorder. Report of Cases.— These cases occurred in a pair of 18-year-old youths who fled Cuba on a raft. A few hours after embarking, the raft overturned, resulting in a loss of most provisions, but the fresh water supply was saved. On physical examination, one patient was discovered to have a palpable, tender liver edge and slight elevations in transaminase and lactic acid dehydrogenase levels, which disappeared later and were not thought contributory to the other findings. The other patient showed a

THE ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE AND OTHER BLOOD TESTS IN TERMINAL CANCER

Abstract400 cases of advanced metastatic disease were reviewed; in 100, the patient had either a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (61 cases) or a normal level of lactic acid dehydrogenase (39 cases). In these 100 selected cases the values for serum total protein, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus were usually normal. Two‐thirds of the patients had anemia.Thus our present screening tests—erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lactic acid dehydrogenase activity—for the presence of occult or advanced metastatic disease are often inadequate.

Pleural Fluid Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase Activity

Lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and protein content were studied in 80 patients with pleural effusion. Cases were categorized into malignant, infective, and transudative groups. In all of the 29 patients with inflammatory effusion and in 22 out of 24 patients with malignant effusion, pleural fluid LDH levels were above 550 units. In none of the 27 patients with transudative effusions were the LDH levels above 550 units. All malignant and inflammatory effusions had protein content above 3 gm/100 ml. In 19 out of 27 patients with "transudative" effusions, the plural fluid protein content was above 3 gm/100 ml. The results indicate that the pleural fluid LDH activity of 550 units serves better than protein in differentiating exudative effusions from transudative effusions.

Leukocyte lactate dehydrogenase changes as an indicator of infection prior to overt symptoms.

Lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration of rabbit serum and leukocytes was followed during the course of an acute infection with Diplococcus pneumoniae. Control values were obtained prior to infection, and again 4, 24, and 48 hr later. LDH isozymes were characterized by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and quantitated by densitometry. An increase in serum LDH was observed as early as 4 hr after infection. These levels returned to normal in 24 hr and rose again 48 hr after infection. The LDH level of leukocytes, from 10 of 12 infected rabbits, rose rapidly during the 24-hr period after exposure. The levels were two to three times the original preinoculation level for that animal. In six of these rabbits, this LDH elevation occurred 4 hr after inoculation and preceded the onset of fever. Change in the type of leukocyte did not account for the increase in cellular LDH. All infected rabbits showed approximately the same increase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but not all developed comparable increases in LDH. The isozyme patterns obtained, when defined amounts of enzyme were applied to the gel for electrophoresis, were characterized for the most part by a three-enzyme pattern. Increasing amounts of enzyme occasionally revealed a fourth, more cathodal, enzyme. The more cathodic enzymes appear to be the most responsive when sudden shifts in enzyme concentration occur within the cell.

Rheumatoid Pleuritis with Effusion

SUMMARY 1.Rheumatoid pleuritis with effusion may occur in the course of rheumatoid disease without radiographic evidence of lung involvement. 2.Unusual characteristics of the pleural fluid in rheumatoid disease have been discussed with particular reference to low glucose level, cosinophilia, and elevated lactic acid dehydrogenase level. 3.Needle biopsy of the parietal pleura is strongly recommended for confirming the suspected diagnosis of rheumatoid pleuritis and for ruling out other causes of pleural effusion. Repeat biopsies are indicated when the initial attempt is nondiagnostic. 4.The occurrence of rheumatoid pleural effusion has no prognostic significance for the subsequent course of arthritis. 5.Specific treatment for rheumatoid pleural effusion is not presently available nor indicated except thoracentesis for comfort.

Pulmonary Rheumatoid Nodule With Cavitation and Chronic Lipid Effusion

Unusual findings were noted in a case of nodular rheumatoid pulmonary disease with roentgenographic evidence of cavitation. Biopsy specimen of the cavitated nodule was identical microscopically to the patient's typical subcutaneous rheumatoid nodule. Of further interest was the associated pleural effusion with low glucose concentration, high total lipid content, and extremely high lactic acid dehydrogenase level. To the best of the author's knowledge, chronic lipid effusion and elevated lactic acid dehydrogenase have not been previously reported in association with rheumatoid disease of the lung. The diagnostician must consider rheumatoid disease in the differential diagnosis of cavitary pulmonary lesions in the patient with associated rheumatoid disease. Adequate biopsy and microscopic confirmation of the process are still required for definite diagnosis.

Aspects of the aging of the avian (nucleated) red blood cell in vivo

The serial osmotic hemolysis procedure of Simon and Topper [18] has been applied to chicken erythrocytes. Some of the chickens had been injected with 59Fe at various times prior to bleeding, thus giving rise to labeled red cells of different ages. Others had not been injected but their blood was labeled with 51Cr in vitro. The osmotically lysed fractions were also analyzed for the enzyme activity levels of lactic acid dehydrogenase and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase. It was found that: 1. 1. Chicken red blood cells, like mammalian erythrocytes, exhibit a correlation between age and resistance to hypotonic lysis. The serial osmotic hemolysis procedure differentiates two populations of young cells, one fragile and one resistant. While two such populations have been found in the mammalian system, the resistant young chicken cells are more fragile than the corresponding mammalian young cells. 2. 2. Determination of relative-specific enzyme activities (LDH and GOT) indicates that only a small, fragile young cell component (which is found in both mammals and chickens) is associated with increased enzyme activities but that the bulk of young chicken cells exhibits only average enzyme levels. These results indicate that the decline of enzymatic activity in the chicken red blood cell on maturation proceeds more rapidly than in the mammalian cell. 3. 3. The distribution of the 51Cr label among chicken erythrocytes, in contradistinction to the mammalian system, is independent of red blood cell age. Since the preferential chromium binding by young mammalian erythrocytes has been shown to be due to the preferential binding of chromium by the younger hemoglobin, it is probable that the chicken hemoglobin, which greatly differs structurally from mammalian hemoglobin, is either not structurally altered on aging or, at least, not in a way such as to affect the extent of chromium binding.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ERYTHROCYTES OF DIFFERENT AGES: II. ENZYME ACTIVITY AND OSMOTIC FRAGILITY

The activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, lactic acid dehydrogenase, and catalase in red cells of different ages has been studied with a serial osmotic fragility technique. Two populations of young cells, one fragile and one resistant, have been differentiated and shown to contain increased levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and average (normal) levels of catalase. Lactic acid dehydrogenase levels were shown to be increased only in the fragile population of young cells. These findings were confirmed with similar studies on abnormal red cell populations containing increased numbers of young red cells and reticulocytes. Although their identity has not been established, the results suggest that the fragile and resistant young red cell populations are composed mainly of reticulocytes and fully matured young cells, respectively.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ERYTHROCYTES OF DIFFERENT AGES: II. ENZYME ACTIVITY AND OSMOTIC FRAGILITY

The activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, lactic acid dehydrogenase, and catalase in red cells of different ages has been studied with a serial osmotic fragility technique. Two populations of young cells, one fragile and one resistant, have been differentiated and shown to contain increased levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and average (normal) levels of catalase. Lactic acid dehydrogenase levels were shown to be increased only in the fragile population of young cells. These findings were confirmed with similar studies on abnormal red cell populations containing increased numbers of young red cells and reticulocytes. Although their identity has not been established, the results suggest that the fragile and resistant young red cell populations are composed mainly of reticulocytes and fully matured young cells, respectively.

Effects of inanition, protein depletion and repletion on serum lactic acid dehydrogenase levels in rats.

The effects of inanition, protein depletion and repletion upon serum lactic acid dehydrogenase (SLD), total serum protein and hematocrit values have been determined in adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats. Significant increases in concentration of SLD concomitant with decreases in serum protein levels followed inanition and protein depletion. Upon repletion, subnormal SLD values occurred in groups fed a diet containing 17% or more of protein. Serum protein values for the groups were significantly increased. The results are discussed with respect to possible causes for observed changes.