LDH is widely distributed in tissue, particularly, liver, muscle, and kidney. LDH in serum can be separated into five different isoenzymes based on their electrophoretic mobility. Each isoenzyme is a tetramer composed of two different subunits. These two subunits have been designated heart and muscle, based on their polypeptide chains. There are two homotetramers, LDH-1 (heart) and LDH-5 (muscle), and three hybrid isoenzymes. Elevated serum levels of LDH have been observed in a variety of disease states.
The highest levels are seen in patients with megaloblastic anemia, myocardial infarction, disseminated carcinoma, leukemia, and trauma. Mild increases in LDH activity have been reported in cases of hemolytic anemia, muscular dystrophy, pulmonary infarction, hepatitis, nephortic syndrome, and cirrhosis.