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Highly elevated lactate dehydrogenase level in a healthy individual: A case of macro‐LDH
Author(s) -
Perry Chava,
Peretz Hava,
BenTal Ofira,
Eldor Amiram
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-8652(199705)55:1<39::aid-ajh7>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - lactate dehydrogenase , myocardial infarction , medicine , enzyme , antibody , disease , gastroenterology , biochemistry , endocrinology , immunology , chemistry
Macroenzymes are complexes of serum enzymes with a plasmatic protein. They have a higher molecular weight and a more prolonged serum half‐life than those of unbound enzymes. Although macroenzymes may be found in the serum of post‐myocardial infarction patients, they are not usually associated with any specific disease. Their presence, however, can use an elevation in the serum levels of an enzyme, possibly leading to errors in diagnosis. We report a patient with extremely elevated serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) due to the formation of complexes with immunoglobulin G. She had undergone a myriad of clinical examinations until the macroenzyme responsible for this finding was detected. We also review the literature on the clinical significance of macro‐LDH. We propose that awareness of this rare and probably benign phenomenon can spare the patient from the distress of exhaustive investigations. Am. J. Hematol. 55:39‐40, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.