Serum lactate dehydrogenase, alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and ratio of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase to lactate dehydrogenase in testicular tumours.

ABSTRACT

Serum levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase (HBDH) and the relative ratio of alpha-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase to Lactate Dehydrogenase (HBDH/LDH) were determined in 51 cases of histologically proved testicular germ cell tumors and 40 healthy controls. Serum LDH and HBDH levels were found to be raised in both seminomatous and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. The ratio of HBDH/LDH was found to be statistically significant in seminomas and insignificant in non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Furthermore, the levels of LDH and HBDH showed a fall, following treatment indicating response to therapy. Serum LDH and HBDH could both be used as tumor markers in the diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors as well as prognostic indicators in monitoring therapy, HBDH, being more specific in monitoring therapy as compared to serum LDH.