Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), also called lactic acid dehydrogenase, is measured in your blood or other body fluids in this test. LDH is involved in the production of energy in your body. It can be found in practically every tissue in the body, including the blood, heart, kidneys, brain, and lungs.
LDH is released into the circulation or other body fluids when these tissues are injured. If the LDH plasma or fluid levels are elevated, it could indicate that disease or injury has damaged certain body tissue. When your cells are damaged by sickness or injury, LDH is released into the bloodstream, causing your blood LDH level to rise.