Effectiveness of lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio in diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study is to inspect effectiveness of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to albumin ratio (LAR) in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods: In this single center and retrospective study, 307 patients who admitted to emergency unit, between January 2017 and March 2020, with chest pain and sudden developing dyspnea were enrolled. Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) were performed to confirm pulmonary embolism. Results: LAR, neutrophil, monocyte, d-dimer, LDH values were significantly higher and albumin values were significantly lower in patients with pulmonary embolism compared to patients without pulmonary embolism. Average age of 307 participants were 68.93; 140 patients were confirmed for PTE and 167 were normal. Linear regression analysis for LAR in diagnosis of PTE, revealed a correlation coefficient as r=0.320 (p<0.001). Positive and negative predictive values for LAR in diagnosisi of PTE were, 63.3% and 75.2%, respectively. In ROC analysis relation of LAR to PTE was found to be stronger than LDH and albumin tests alone. Conclusion: LAR, which is a very simple and available test, may be used as a novel parameter in diagnosis of PTE.