Raushan Jahan, Asima Khanam, Anum Masood, Rabeya Rehman.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Lactate Dehydrogenase for Diagnosis of Perinatal Asphyxia in Neonates with Non-Reactive CTG.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;13(2):458-60.

Background: Birth asphyxia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme which can help in early prediction. Aim : To assess the diagnostic accuracy of lactate dehydrogenase for diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia among neonates with non-reactive cardiotocography taking clinical diagnosis of birth asphyxia as gold standard. Methods : This cross sectional study was done at Department of Pediatric Me dicine, Services Hospital, Lahore for six months. 280 neonates with non-reactive CTG were included. Blood sample was taken within first 1hr after birth. LDH level was noted and neonates were labeled as positive or negative. Neonates were followed-up for 72 hours for signs of birth asphyxia. Results : Mean gestational age was 39.45+/-1.73 weeks and the mean weight was 2.75+/-0.48 kg. LDH was found positive in 179 (63.9%) patients and the birth asphyxia was observed positive in 176 (62.9%) patients. The diagnostic accuracy of LDH was 91.8% taking birth asphyxia as gold standard. Conclusion : LDH is the appropriate and reliable predictor of perinatal asphyxia with diagnostic accuracy of 93% among neonates with non-reactive cardiotocography taking clinical diagnosis of birth asphyxia as gold standard.

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