Lactate Dehydrogenase Pericardial Fluid

This test is used to evaluate the levels of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase present in the pericardial fluid. The lactate dehydrogenase is an enzyme used during the process of converting sugar into energy within the cells. The change in concentrations of LDH may suggest possible trauma to the heart, heart diseases like bacterial or viral pericarditis, myocardial infarction or pancreatic, liver or kidney diseases etc.

What is Pericardial fluid?

The layer covering the heart is called the pericardium. The pericardium keeps the heart in place and protects the heart from infections. The pericardium secretes a fluid which covers the heart called as the pericardial fluid. The pericardial fluid lubricates the surface of the heart to prevent friction around the surrounding tissues. The pericardium and pericardial fluid prevent the heart from stretching and overfilling with blood. Changes in the volume, composition of pericardial fluid may occur in conditions like cardiac trauma, kidney diseases, infections or cancers, recent heart surgery etc.

What is lactate dehydrogenase?

Lactate dehydrogenase is an enzyme present in many organs and tissues throughout the body, like liver, heart, kidneys, skeletal muscles, lymph tissues, and blood. This enzyme is useful in the production of energy from glucose within the cells. The LDH concentrations in the body fluids like CSF, peritoneal, pleural, pericardial etc may change during illness or damage to the cells or the surrounding tissues and can be used to diagnose the severity or the type of illness.

Why is this test performed?

This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, pain and swelling of joints, nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain or feeling of fullness, difficulty in breathing, chest pain or pressure,weakness, This test is also recommended to check existing conditions like acute pancreatitis, cardiac and pulmonary disorders, eating disorders, malignancies etc.

Higher or lower values of lactate dehydrogenase pericardial fluid test results may indicate that the individual may have the diseases or conditions like myocardial infarction, thoracic trauma, kidney or liver diseases, cancers or tumors, muscle disorders, infections like tuberculosis, bacterial or viral pericarditis, rheumatic disease etc.

Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests, etc.