The Relationship Between Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Levels and Myeloid Engraftment in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: The early detection of myeloid engraftment after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is of clinical importance for clinicians. In this study, we evaluated whether serum lactic dehydrogenase enzyme levels are significant predictors in the early detection of successful myeloid engraftment after HSCT.

Methods: The study included 74 patients, all of whom underwent HSCT between February 2014 and June 2020. Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme and complete blood parameters were evaluated at the start of the preparation regimen, on the day of product infusion, 5 days before myeloid engraftment, on the day of myeloid engraftment, and 5 days after engraftment.

Results: LDH enzyme levels increased statistically significantly 5 days before myeloid engraftment (P = .005), and this increase was observed to continue on the day of engraftment, and 5 days after engraftment, but the differences between the measurements 5 days before engraftment and those on the day of engraftment, and 5 days after engraftment were statistically insignificant (P > .05). There was no significant difference in LDH enzyme levels between the measurements made at the beginning of the preparation regimen and those made on the infusion day (P > .05).

Conclusions: Increased LDH enzyme levels after HSCT are associated with increased myelopoiesis in the bone marrow. The monitoring of serum LDH levels and the detection of the onset of increase in enzyme levels in patients undergoing HSCT may be predictors of engraftment.