SERUM -HYDROXYBUTYRATE DEHYDROGENASE: A NEW TEST FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

SLD-[serum lactate dehydrogenase], SHBD-[serum a-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase], SGOT-[serum glutamate-oxalo-acetate transaminase], SGPT-[serum glutamate-pyruvate transamin-ase] determinations were carried out on 70 patients with myocardial infarction and on a number of patients with conditions other than myocardial infarction. The three former were almost invariably raised following myocardial infarction. Of 22 patients followed serially normal levels were achieved an average of 5.4 days following infarction for SGOT, an average of 11 days for SLD, and 13 days for SHBD, SLD and SHBD were less frequently raised than SGOT and SGPT in the patients with conditions other than myocardial infarction, including patients with liver damage. The most prolonged rise following infarction, and the greatest freedom from false positive and false negative results was shown by SHBD. The SLD:SHBD ratio was of some limited help in the differentiation of myocardial from hepatic damage, ratios below 1.20 favouring myocardial injury and above 1.70 favouring liver damage.