DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF SERUM LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE LEVELS (LDL) IN DIFFERENTIATING MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA FROM MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: To study the diagnostic utility of lactate dehydrogenase levels in differentiating megaloblastic anemia from myelodysplastic anemia in Pakistan. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Hematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Feb, 2019 to Aug, 2019. Methodology: In this study, total 240 patients (18-75 years of age) males and females were selected by consecutive sampling technique and were equally divided into 3 groups; patients with megaloblastic anemia, patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and healthy control group. The clinical history and duration of anemia were recorded on special designed proforma. The laboratory investigations including lactate dehydrogenase levels were also noted. Both types of anemia were compared on basis of Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels. Results: The lactate dehydrogenase levels in megaloblastic group were more than 3000 IU/L in 58 out of 80 patients (72.5%). On other hand, myelodysplastic group had 79 out of 80 patients with lactic acid dehydrogenase levels below 450 IU/L (98.75%). The difference in lactic acid dehydrogenase levels between both groups was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels can be used to differentiate megaloblastic anemia from other anemia especially myelodysplastic syndromes before doing a bone marrow examination. High lactate dehydrogenase levels above 3000 IU/L in megaloblastic anemia can differentiate it from other anemia.

Keywords

• anemia
• megaloblastic anemia
• myelodysplastic anemia