Lactic dehydrogenase levels in patients with duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, gastric polys and gastric carcinoma.

LDH is found in many body fluids and tissues. Its level is elevated in many diseases. Thus the levels of LDH in serum and gastric juice were determined in both benign and malignant disease of the upper gastro-intestinal tract using the spectrophotometric techniques. 45 patients were included in the study (duodenal ulcer 19; gastric ulcer 6; gastric polyps 5; and gastric carcinoma 15). Serum LDH levels were not significantly elevated. However, the gastric juice LDH levels were significantly elevated in gastric polyps and gastric carcinoma. The mean levels were 96.81 +/- 14.31 and 443.2 +/- 58.1 i.u./L respectively. Serial estimation of gastric juice LDH in patients with gastric polyps showed a remarkable elevation at the time of malignant transformation.