Serum Heat-Stable Lactate Dehydrogenase in the Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction

Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), heatstable LDH (HLDH), and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) were compared in 12 diagnostic categories. The measurement of HLDH was found to be a simple means of increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and of helping to separate this diagnosis from associated conditions such as superimposed liver damage related to pulmonary infarction or congestive failure. An elevated HLDH level together with a heat-stable to total LDH ratio above 0.5 gives a high probability of the occurrence of myocardial infarction in a relevant clinical setting.