title: Prognostic role of serum lactate dehydrogenase beyond initial diagnosis: a retrospective analysis of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Baseline serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level is a well-known prognostic factor in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; however, its role beyond initial diagnosis has not yet been defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted as a retrospective analysis of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with R-CHOP21, who had undergone regular checks for LDH during immunochemotherapy (n = 119) and during the posttreatment follow-up period after complete remission (CR; n = 100). The 119 patients were classified into 4 groups according to their baseline and change in LDH level during treatment, and an analysis of tumor response and survival was performed. The value of LDH as a predictor for relapse was evaluated among the patients with regular follow-up visits after achieving CR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increased LDH level during immunochemotherapy had no impact on tumor response or survival, and only the LDH status 'before' treatment was a prognostic marker. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serum LDH for detecting relapse after CR were 47.4, 86.5, 9.3 and 98.3%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of LDH level beyond initial diagnosis has no clear benefit in predicting disease progression or relapse in patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP21.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junshik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hyun-Hwa
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hee Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sun Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sym
authors.forename: Jinny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Pil-Whan
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong Yeal
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sanghui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dong Bok
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; C571759:R-CHOP protocol; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011241:Prednisone