Diagnostic Role of Lactate Dehydrogenase and Bilirubin Level in Megaloblastic Anemia

Objective: To study the change in LDH and bilirubin levels in cases of megaloblastic anemia and to correlate it with severity of vitamin b12 deficiency. Method: A case control study was done on 200 people with 100 cases having megaloblastic anemia and 100 normal healthy controls during a span of 1 year. Required biochemical studies were done and data was tabulated in predesigned proforma and assessed. The continues variables were presented as means and compared by unpaired t test. Correlation was assessed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean LDH level in cases (5076.1 u/l) was very significantly (p value less than0.0001) higher than controls (443.6 u/l) and mean bilirubin level was also very significantly higher in cases than controls. On correlation analysis, the levels of both LDH correlated with severity of anemia. Conclusion: Since, LDH and bilirubin both are significantly raised in cases of megaloblastic anemia and also their levels correlates well with the severity of anemia, so they can be used as indirect markers of diagnosis and severity.