Role of Lactate Dehydrogenase Testing in the Prediction of Severe Conditions in Newborn | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||
| Article 97, Volume 100, Issue 1, July 2025, Pages 3217-3224 PDF (529.19 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2025.443483 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: The neonatal period, particularly the first week of life, presents significant challenges due to high morbidity and mortality rates. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) has emerged as a promising biomarker for early detection of severe complications in neonates, as it rises during cellular hypoxia and tissue injury. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between LDH levels at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission and the occurrence of severe complications in neonates, evaluating its potential as a predictive biomarker for neonatal outcomes. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the NICU of Menoufia University Hospital. The study included 53 neonates admitted with serious illness symptoms. Comprehensive data collection included demographic information, clinical examinations, and laboratory investigations, including LDH levels. Results: Among the neonates studied, LDH levels showed significant negative correlations with Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes (r = -0.581 and r = -0.530, respectively, p ≤ 0.001), pH (r = -0.488, p ≤ 0.001), and oxygen saturation (r = -0.523, p ≤ 0.001). Neonates requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) showed significantly higher LDH levels (1121.6 ± 182.87 U/L, p ≤ 0.001). ROC curve analysis revealed that LDH had moderate predictive value for mortality (AUC = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.93), with a cutoff value of 895.50 U/L yielding 79.2% sensitivity and 55.2% specificity. Conclusion: LDH demonstrated potential as a valuable biomarker for predicting adverse outcomes in neonates, particularly mortality risk. Its significant associations with poor Apgar scores, respiratory support requirements, and various clinical parameters suggest its utility in early risk assessment. However, larger studies are needed to validate these findings and establish definitive clinical guidelines for LDH use in neonatal care. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Lactate dehydrogenase; Neonatal mortality; Biomarker; Respiratory distress; NICU; MV | ||
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