From the Research
Low Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are generally not considered clinically significant and typically do not require specific management or intervention. Unlike elevated LDH, which can indicate tissue damage or disease processes, low LDH levels are rarely associated with pathological conditions and are often incidental findings. No medications or treatments are typically prescribed specifically for low LDH. If a low LDH level is detected during routine blood work, clinicians usually do not pursue further investigation unless accompanied by other concerning laboratory abnormalities or symptoms. The lack of clinical significance stems from LDH's physiological role as an intracellular enzyme involved in glucose metabolism, converting lactate to pyruvate and vice versa. While high levels indicate cellular damage with LDH leaking into the bloodstream, low levels don't correlate with specific disease processes. Occasionally, low LDH may be seen in patients with genetic LDH deficiency, which is extremely rare, or may represent a laboratory error. If consistently low values are observed with accompanying symptoms, consultation with a specialist might be warranted to rule out rare metabolic disorders, but this scenario is uncommon in clinical practice 1.
Some studies have focused on the prognostic value of LDH levels in various diseases, including cancer 2, 3, 4, 5. However, these studies primarily discuss the implications of elevated LDH levels, not low levels. Given the current evidence, the management of low LDH levels does not typically involve specific interventions, and the focus should be on addressing any accompanying symptoms or abnormalities rather than the low LDH level itself. It's also important to note that the provided studies do not directly address the clinical significance of low LDH levels, further supporting the notion that low LDH is not a significant concern in clinical practice. Therefore, no specific action is recommended for low LDH levels unless they are part of a broader clinical picture that warrants further investigation.