Lactate Dehydrogenase: Physiological Roles and Clinical Implications

The present study aimed to review the literature about lactate dehydrogenase regarding physiological roles and clinical implications. The enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is widely spread in almost each cell in the body, and its prime function is to convert lactate to pyruvate through oxidation process. LDH exists in the cytoplasm of cell and when cell dies it becomes extracellular. The levels of LDH vary according to metabolic needs of each tissue such as development, biological conditions, and pathological aspects. Its levels are increased in a variety of clinical situations from inflammatory conditions to malignancies. The specificity of LDH cannot be taken as a single parameter but helps with other biochemical investigations.