Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Unit Converter

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in almost every cell in your body. It plays a key role in energy production by helping convert sugar (glucose) into energy, especially when oxygen levels are low.

When cells are damaged or destroyed by disease, injury, or infection, they release LDH into the bloodstream. This makes LDH a useful marker for detecting tissue damage, though it cannot pinpoint which specific organ or tissue is affected.

There are five forms of LDH called isoenzymes (LDH-1 through LDH-5), each found in higher concentrations in different tissues. This pattern can sometimes help identify the source of tissue damage.

LDH is produced in cells throughout the body, with the highest concentrations found in the heart, liver, muscles, kidneys, lungs, and red blood cells. Different LDH isoenzymes are concentrated in specific tissues: LDH-1 in heart and red blood cells, LDH-3 in lungs, and LDH-5 in liver and skeletal muscles.