Diagnostic Value of Determination of Lactate Dehydrogenase and β-Glucuronidase Activity of Gastric Juice

Abstract

The diagnostic value of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and β-glucuronidase (β-glu.) activity assays in the gastric juice are assessed by the authors, relying upon the evidence obtained in 400 cases. The authors sought the cause of the ‘false positive’ results making the tests unreliable beforehand. In the authors’ opinion, LDH and β-glu. activities depend on the general condition of the gastric mucosa; LDH activity increases parallel with the severity of gastric glandular atrophy, and β-glu. activity is increased in the presence of malignant tumours and in intestinal metaplasia only. The enzyme studies may be utilized in differentiating gastric cancer and chronic gastritis from other gastric diseases, on the one hand, and, on the other, they may help screen out cases of chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, which may be considered to be preneoplastic conditions.

Screening for Gastric Carcinoma by Determination of Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase Activity in the Gastric Juice

“…biopsy as well as laboratory, and functional tests can be used. We have offered combined enzyme and histological evidence [16], showing that the LDH activity o f gastric juice increases in direct proportion to the severity o f gastric atrophy, and that this increase is the most marked in the presence o f intestinal metaplasia. We get.…”