key: cord-0802370-srt95n90
authors: Bartziokas, Konstantinos; Kostikas, Konstantinos
title: Lactate dehydrogenase, Covid-19 and mortality
date: 2020-09-25
journal: Med Clin (Barc)
DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.07.043
sha: dfd56425a25fb71227b8fc94ca62b8a306b1cd50
doc_id: 802370
cord_uid: srt95n90

nan

J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f time to estimate their associated mortality rate. The ability to identify cases that are in imminent danger of death has thus become an urgent necessity. Recently we read with great interest the article published by Yingjie Zhu et co-workers in 'Medicina Clínica', which assessed organ function in 102 patients with severe COVID-19 2 . On the occasion of this article, we would like to point out and draw attention to a specific laboratory test which can be probably used as prognostic factors of the disease. This is lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

What we know so far? So far we had known that LDH is an enzyme involved in energy production and that is found in almost all cells in the body.

Tests that measure the concentration of LDH in the blood are commonly used to monitor tissue damage associated with a wide range of disorders, including liver disease and interstitial lung disease. The increase of LDH reflects tissue/cell destruction and is regarded as a common sign of tissue/cell damage, suggesting viral infection or lung damage, such as the pneumonia induced by SARS-CoV-2. We also know that serum LDH has been identified as an important biomarker for the activity and severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 3 . More specifically, in patients with severe pulmonary interstitial disease, the increase of LDH is significant and is one of the most important prognostic markers of lung injury.

There is convincing evidence linking high LDH levels in critically ill patients, through Covid-19, with increasing activity and extent of lung injury 4 

Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China

Evaluation of organ function in patients with severe COVID-19 infections

Staging of acute exacerbation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China

An interpretable mortality prediction model for COVID-19 patients