Keywords
sickle cell disease - complications - lactate dehydrogenase - systematic review
Background
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited disorders affecting hemoglobin,
primarily characterized by the production of hemoglobin S, which leads to diverse
clinical manifestations. This condition affects millions worldwide, particularly those
of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian descent.[1]
[2]
[3] In SCD, red blood cell sickling and hemolysis result in vaso-occlusion and subsequent
ischemia. The disease is marked by acute manifestations, including repeated episodes
of severe acute pain and acute chest syndrome (ACS). It also leads to chronic complications,
including stroke, nephropathy, retinopathy, avascular necrosis, and leg ulcers. The
severity of morbidity, frequency of crises, degree of anemia, and affected organ systems
can vary significantly from person to person.[1]
[4]
[5]
Despite the high prevalence of SCD, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions
with limited healthcare resources, identifying reliable and feasible biomarkers to
assess disease severity and predict complications remains challenging.[5] Among potential biomarkers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) holds promise due to its
role in reflecting hemolytic activity and the intensity of tissue damage central to
SCD pathology.[6]
[7]
[8] LDH is an enzyme in the glycolytic pathway that facilitates the conversion of pyruvate
to lactate while converting NADH to NAD + . It is widely distributed across various
tissues and exists in serum as five distinct isoenzymes, which are usually included
in routine serum LDH determination.[6]
Elevated LDH levels are observed in SCD patients and may correlate with severity and
long-term complications, making it a potential indicator of disease severity even
during steady-state periods, when patients are free from acute episodes.[6]
[8]
[9] Among markers of hemolysis, LDH stands out as a valuable predictor of SCD severity
due to its sensitivity, relative specificity, wide availability, and cost-effectiveness.[10]
[11] These factors make LDH a more practical and feasible choice for routine clinical
use, particularly in resource-limited settings where accessible and cost-effective
diagnostic tools are needed. Studying LDH levels during steady-state periods enables
the establishment of a stable baseline assessment of chronic disease processes. In
the context of SCD, “steady state” refers to a period when the patient is relatively
stable and not experiencing acute complications, such as pain crises, acute illnesses,
and recent blood transfusions.[1]
[5]
Although LDH is a known marker of hemolysis, research shows inconsistent results regarding
its correlation with specific complications of SCD. This systematic review aims to
evaluate existing evidence on the correlation between steady-state LDH levels and
severe SCD complications. Such an evaluation could strengthen the evidence supporting
LDH as a prognostic marker in SCD, informing preventive interventions and improving
clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
Methods
Search Approach and Studies Inclusion Criteria
This review was done based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews
and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.[12] The review's protocol was registered previously on the Open Science Framework platform
(https://osf.io/gvaeb). Search terms used for this review were (sickle cell or hemoglobin S disease or hemoglobin S disorder) and (lactate dehydrogenase or LDH). To gather relevant literature, we conducted a systematic literature search
using the electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and ScienceDirect.
There were no restrictions applied to the search in terms of age, race, geographical
area, or publication date. We reviewed the articles referenced by the included articles
to ensure no possible relevant articles were missed. The publications were uploaded
to the EndNote software to expedite initial screening of titles and abstracts and
remove duplicate entries.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
The selection process involved a two-step approach. Initially, we screened the titles
and abstracts of all identified articles to identify potentially relevant studies.
Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive full-text review of these selected studies
to assess their eligibility based on the predefined inclusion criteria. Eligible studies
included cross-sectional, case–control, or cohort designs that specifically reported
on the relationship between serum LDH levels and complications of SCD. Eligible studies
were required to clearly state that the SCD patients were in a steady state, meaning
they were free from any acute conditions like acute illnesses, painful crises, or
recent blood transfusions. Publications such as case reports, editorials, reviews,
abstracts, or those lacking sufficient data on the relevant variables were excluded.
Quality Assessment and Data Extraction
To evaluate the methodological rigor and potential biases in the included studies,
we employed the critical appraisal checklists provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute
(https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-tools). The tool facilitates assessment of the possibility of bias in study design, conduct,
and data analysis.
The data extraction process involved four independent reviewers for extracting relevant
information from each study. Any discrepancies or inconsistencies among the reviewers
were resolved through discussion and consensus. The data extracted from each study
included author, year, region, number of patients, age group of the participants,
and a brief summary of study findings related to LDH levels among SCD patients with
and without complications. All inconsistencies during quality assessment and data
extraction were resolved by discussion and consensus.
Statistical Analysis
The statistical analyses were performed by using the Jamovi software (https://www.jamovi.org) to calculate the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence
intervals (CIs). The random effects model, using the DerSimonian–Laird method, was
chosen to account for the high heterogeneity among studies, which we evaluated using
the I
2 statistic. To test for the presence of publication bias, we performed statistical
analyses using both Begg's and Mazumdar's rank correlation test and Egger's regression
test. In addition, funnel plots were visually checked to evaluate publication bias
for analyses involving more than 10 studies. The Duval and Tweedie trim-and-fill method
was applied to account for potentially missing studies when there is evidence of a
publication bias. The significance level for all analyses was set at 0.05.
Results
Studies Characteristics
The schematic flow of the study identification and selection process is presented
in [Fig. 1]. Initially, the search yielded a total of 2,573 records. After removing duplicate
data, 1,066 studies were included for the title and abstract screening. Of which,
1,018 were excluded due to irrelevance. Full texts of the remaining 48 records were
screened with a subsequent exclusion of 14 records, as shown in [Fig. 1]. Lastly, a total of 34 studies met the eligibility criteria and were further included
in this review. These studies were included in the meta-analyses.
Fig. 1 Flow chart for the study selection process.
The main features of the included studies, including risk of bias assessment, are
presented in [Table 1]. Sample sizes ranged from 36 to 535 participants across studies. Of them, 15 studies
sampled only children with SCD, while the other studies included adult patients with
SCD. Key findings of the relationship between LDH levels and the severity of complications
in SCD are summarized as follows.
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of the studies included in the review
Study
|
Year
|
Country
|
No. of SCD patients
|
Age group
|
Main findings related to the correlation between LDH levels and SCD complications
|
Quality assessment
|
Adanho et al
|
2022
|
Brazil
|
159
|
<18 y
|
Correlation with abnormal TCD velocities
|
6/8
|
Adegoke et al
|
2017
|
Brazil
|
36
|
4–11 y
|
Association with vitamin D deficiency
|
6/8
|
Adekile et al
|
2017
|
Kuwait
|
38
|
<18 y
|
No significant correlation with pulmonary function tests
|
8/8
|
Akgül et al
|
2007
|
Türkiye
|
87
|
All groups
|
Association with high pulmonary artery pressure
|
8/10
|
Al-Allawi et al
|
2016
|
Iraq
|
94
|
3–39 y
|
No significant correlation with TRJV
|
8/8
|
Aleluia et al
|
2017
|
Brazil
|
99
|
Not available
|
No significant correlation with HDL-C level
|
6/8
|
Aol et al
|
2024
|
Uganda
|
332
|
6–18 y
|
Children with SCD who have high LDH had a nearly 2-fold higher risk of abnormal lung
function
|
8/8
|
Ataga et al
|
2006
|
US
|
76
|
Adults
|
LDH levels were significantly associated with pulmonary artery systolic pressure
|
9/11
|
Bernaudin et al
|
2007
|
France
|
373
|
12–18 mo
|
LDH is an independent predictor for TCD high velocities
|
8/11
|
Connes et al
|
2022
|
Nigeria
|
75
|
Adults
|
Association with recurrent leg ulcer
|
5/8
|
Cumming et al
|
2007
|
Jamaica
|
225
|
18–64 y
|
A 100-unit increase in LDH was associated with a 19.9% increased risk of developing
chronic leg ulcers
|
10/11
|
Day et al
|
2012
|
UK
|
253
|
17–70 y
|
LDH was the strongest predictor of microalbuminuria among other hemolytic parameters
studied
|
6/8
|
Dahoui et al
|
2009
|
Lebanon
|
90
|
2–30 y
|
Association with abnormal TRJV values
|
8/8
|
Dosunmu et al
|
2014
|
Nigeria
|
56
|
14–42 y
|
Correlation with pulmonary artery pressure
|
8/10
|
Fares et al
|
2020
|
France
|
78
|
18–61 y
|
Microstructural changes in the retina
|
6/8
|
Garada et al
|
2015
|
Bahrain
|
55
|
18–64 y
|
Association with very low BMD
|
6/8
|
Gomes et al
|
2023
|
Brazil
|
55
|
≥19 y
|
Association with TG/HDL-C ratio
|
6/8
|
Gurkan et al
|
2010
|
US
|
34
|
5–19 y
|
Association with microalbuminuria
|
8/8
|
Hamideh et al
|
2014
|
US
|
38
|
11–48 y
|
No significant association with albuminuria
|
8/8
|
Hamdy et al
|
2018
|
Egypt
|
80
|
<20 y
|
Association with vitamin D deficiency
|
6/8
|
Itokua et al
|
2016
|
DR Congo
|
70
|
2–18 y
|
Correlation with urinary albumin creatinine ratio
|
8/8
|
Ismail et al
|
2019
|
Nigeria
|
100
|
2–16 y
|
Association with abnormal TCD velocities
|
6/8
|
Liem et al
|
2007
|
US
|
51
|
10–20 y
|
Correlation with TRJV values
|
8/8
|
Lobo et al
|
2015
|
Brazil
|
123
|
16–60 y
|
Association with abnormal TRJV values
|
8/8
|
Minniti et al
|
2009
|
US
|
310
|
8–16 y
|
Association with abnormal TRJV values
|
8/8
|
Ojewunmi et al
|
2017
|
Nigeria
|
147
|
2–16 y
|
Association with abnormal TCD velocities
|
8/8
|
Roger et al
|
2021
|
France
|
535
|
19–30 y
|
Association with the onset of CKD stage II
|
10/11
|
Seixas et al
|
2010
|
Brazil
|
152
|
Children
|
Association with higher triglycerides and lower HDL-C
|
6/8
|
Senet et al
|
2016
|
France
|
98
|
30–44 y
|
Association with the healing of leg ulcers at week 24
|
6/11
|
Silva et al
|
2020
|
Portugal
|
70
|
3–16 y
|
Association with stroke risk because of the correlation with time-averaged mean velocity
in the middle cerebral artery
|
8/8
|
Sokunbi et al
|
2017
|
Nigeria
|
175
|
5–18 y
|
No significant association with TRJV
|
8/8
|
Valente-Frossard et al
|
2020
|
Brazil
|
161
|
12.41 ± 2.76 y
|
Association with higher HDL-C levels
|
6/8
|
Youssry et al
|
2015
|
Egypt
|
47
|
5–19 y
|
Association with microalbuminuria
|
8/8
|
Zorca et al
|
2010
|
US
|
365
|
27–45 y
|
Association with higher triglycerides and lower HDL-C
|
6/8
|
Abbreviations: BMD, bone mineral density; CKD, chronic kidney disease; HDL-C, high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; SCD, sickle cell disease; TCD,
transcranial Doppler; TG, triglyceride; TRJV, tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity.
Association between LDH and Cardiopulmonary Complications
The main cardiopulmonary complications assessed across studies were abnormal lung
function and pulmonary hypertension. Regarding lung function, only two studies assessed
abnormal lung function, specifically forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume
in 1 second.[13]
[14] One of them revealed a significant negative correlation with LDH levels. Conversely,
several studies assessed the link between LDH levels and pulmonary hypertension. These
studies used tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity as a surrogate marker for the condition.[13]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
There were six studies with sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis of
the association between LDH and pulmonary hypertension. The meta-analysis showed a
significant association, with a pooled effect size SMD = 0.454 (95% CI: 0.032–0.875,
p = 0.035; [Fig. 2]). There was high studies heterogeneity according to the I
2 test (81.8%). However, there was no publication bias detected according to the Begg's
test (p = .469) and Egger's test (p = 0.663).
Fig. 2 Forest plot for the analysis of the association between lactate dehydrogenase and
pulmonary hypertension.
Association between LDH and Metabolic Disorders
Several studies pointed to relationships between LDH and metabolic health indicators,
especially high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride levels.[24]
[25]
[26] Pereira Gomes et al found a moderate positive correlation between LDH levels and
atherogenic index, triglyceride:HDL-C ratio.[27] Similarly, higher triglyceride and lower HDL-C levels were observed in association
with increased LDH, suggesting the role of LDH in reflecting disruptions in lipid
profiles.[24]
[25]
[28] Additionally, Adegoke et al and Hamdy et al highlighted that patients with vitamin
D deficiency had significantly higher LDH levels, suggesting a possible link between
LDH and nutritional deficiencies.[29]
[30]
There were three studies with sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis
of the association between LDH and low HDL-C (<40 mg/dL). The meta-analysis showed
a significant association, with a pooled effect size SMD = 0.430 (95% CI: 0.030–0.830,
p = 0.035; [Fig. 3]). There was high studies heterogeneity according to the I
2 test (65.8%). However, there was no publication bias detected according to the Begg's
test (p = 1.00) and Egger's test (p = 0.616).
Fig. 3 Forest plot for the analysis of the association between lactate dehydrogenase and
low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Association between LDH and Cerebrovascular Complications
Elevated LDH has been positively correlated with transcranial Doppler (TCD) velocities,
which were used to assess cerebral blood flow velocity and predict stroke risk among
SCD patients. The studies used different cut-points to define abnormal TCD velocities.
However, most of them showed a significant association between LDH levels and TCD
velocities. Bernaudin et al found LDH to be an independent predictor of increased
TCD velocities.[31] Other studies have corroborated these findings, demonstrating positive correlations
between LDH levels and TCD velocities, particularly in the middle cerebral artery.[32]
[33]
[34]
[35] Silva et al and Domingos et al pointed out that LDH levels were higher in patients
at risk for stroke.[36]
[37]
There were three studies with sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis
of the association between LDH and TCD. The meta-analysis showed a significant association,
with pooled effect size SMD = 0.651 (95% CI: 0.459–0.843, p < 0.001; [Fig. 4]). There was no heterogeneity detected according to the I
2 test (0.00%) and there was no publication bias detected according to the Begg's test
(p = 1.00) and Egger's test (p = 0.790).
Fig. 4 Forest plot for the analysis of the association between lactate dehydrogenase and
transcranial Doppler.
Association between LDH and Kidney's Involvement
The associations of LDH with microalbuminuria and albuminuria were explored in five
studies.[38]
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42] The studies used different cut-points to define microalbuminuria and albuminuria.
However, the findings revealed that elevated LDH served as a marker for kidney involvement
in SCD patients. Further supporting this connection, Roger et al found that increased
LDH levels were associated with the development of chronic kidney disease.[43]
There were five studies with sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis of
the association between LDH and microalbuminuria. The meta-analysis showed a significant
association, with a pooled effect size SMD = 0.399 (95% CI: 0.014–0.785, p = 0.042) ([Fig. 5]). There was high studies heterogeneity according to the I
2 test (63.9%). However, there was no publication bias detected according to the Begg's
test (p = 0.483) and Egger's test (p = 0.387).
Fig. 5 Forest plot for the analysis of the association between lactate dehydrogenase and
microalbuminuria.
Association between LDH and Other Complications of SCD
There were three studies that demonstrated a significant relationship between high
LDH levels and various manifestations of leg ulcers in SCD patients, including recurrence
and poor healing outcomes.[44]
[45]
[46] Senet et al noted that lower LDH levels were associated with better outcomes in
leg ulcer management.[46] Additionally, LDH levels were correlated with lower bone mineral density, suggesting
a potential link between LDH and bone health in SCD.[47] Lastly, a study showed that higher LDH levels were associated with foveal avascular
zone enlargement and macular ischemia, which are signs of macular vascular changes
and sickle retinopathy.[48]
Discussion
This systematic review consolidated the available data and provided a more robust
understanding of the association between steady-state LDH levels and several specific
complications in individuals with SCD. The results support the potential of LDH as
a prognostic biomarker for SCD complications because of the consistent associations
across studies, which assessed LDH levels during steady-state periods, indicating
its usefulness as a noninvasive marker for chronic disease assessment without interference
from acute episodes.
The identified associations are explainable by the effect of the hemolysis and endothelial
dysfunction, along with nitric oxide (NO) depletion.[6]
[26]
[49] Hemolysis in SCD releases cell-free hemoglobin into the bloodstream, where it rapidly
scavenges NO, a potent vasodilator essential for maintaining healthy vascular function.
This depletion of NO results in vasoconstriction and endothelial dysfunction, highlighting
a possible connection between hemolysis and cerebral vasculopathy, likely mediated
by reduced NO bioavailability. NO plays a critical role in vascular health by inhibiting
smooth muscle contraction, platelet aggregation, and leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium.
As hemolysis decreases NO availability, it may contribute to the development of cerebral
and other forms of vasculopathy.[6]
[49]
In SCD patients, NO depletion is linked to various vasculopathy-related complications,
including pulmonary hypertension, a common condition in SCD patients. Beyond pulmonary
hypertension, hemolysis and elevated LDH levels are also implicated in ACS. Hemolysis
may contribute to ACS through mechanisms such as vaso-occlusion, inflammation, and
potentially pulmonary thrombosis.[50] However, additional research is needed to clarify these mechanisms and assess LDH's
role in predicting ACS risk.
The results on metabolic complications associated with LDH in SCD reveal significant
insights.
Elevated LDH in SCD correlates with a dysregulated lipid profile, particularly marked
by reduced HDL-C levels. This suggests that patients with both high LDH and low HDL-C
may experience more severe hemolytic and inflammatory effects, increasing their risk
for vascular complications. Elevated LDH reflects higher cell turnover due to hemolysis,
which is associated with lipid profile changes, including reduced HDL-C. The decrease
in HDL-C may result from oxidative stress and inflammation triggered by hemolysis,
further impairing vascular health.[24]
From a clinical perspective, the findings of this review have practical implications.
LDH is a routine blood test, making it a readily accessible and cost-effective biomarker
for monitoring SCD patients. If a strong association with complications is confirmed,
steady-state LDH could be incorporated into clinical practice to identify individuals
at higher risk.[8]
[9]
[51]
By identifying patients with elevated steady-state LDH, clinicians could potentially
implement early interventions, such as closer monitoring or adjustments to disease-modifying
therapies. This could help prevent or mitigate the severity of complications. For
example, because pulmonary hypertension is often asymptomatic in its early stages,
regular screening with echocardiography is recommended for patients with SCD, especially
those with markers like high LDH. In addition, research also revealed a relationship
between LDH and creatinine clearance, pointing to its possible role in predicting
kidney function decline.[52]
The key limitations of this review are limitations in the available data as well as
the heterogeneity of the methods used by the included studies to measure and describe
data. Meta-analysis was not performed for several clinical outcomes due to significant
differences in the definitions and cut-points used to define outcome measures across
the included studies, which prevented quantitative synthesis of the results. The predominance
of cross-sectional data makes it challenging to establish causality and introduces
the risk of confounding factors that were not uniformly controlled for across studies.
In addition, the search showed limitations in longitudinal studies, which would be
more informative for understanding how LDH levels predict the development or progression
of complications over time. Variations in LDH assay methods and laboratory-specific
reference ranges likely contributed to the variability in results. Lastly, the inclusion
of only English-language publications may limit the overall representativeness of
the findings of this review.
Conclusion
This systematic review demonstrated the correlation between the steady-state LDH levels
and several specific complications of SCD. Steady-state LDH levels can provide valuable
clinical insights into disease severity and potential complications of SCD, emphasizing
its probable role for inclusion in clinical assessments of SCD severity. The findings
of this review could contribute to clarifying the relationship between steady-state
LDH levels and complications in SCD, help reduce disease progression, and improve
patients' quality of life.
To build upon these findings and address the current limitations, future research
should focus on several key areas. First, longitudinal studies are needed to track
LDH changes over time in SCD patients to establish a causal link between elevated
LDH and the onset or progression of complications. Second, standardizing LDH measurement
is needed to reduce variability and support the development of universal risk-stratification
thresholds for clinical use. Finally, future studies should investigate the utility
of combining LDH with other markers of hemolysis and endothelial dysfunction to determine
if a multimarker panel can improve prognostic accuracy for identifying high-risk patients.