Correlation Between Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scores at the Onset of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background: In acute ischemic stroke, reduced oxygen supply may trigger metabolic acidosis and cellular injury. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as an intracellular enzyme, helps generate energy by converting pyruvate to lactate in glycolysis. This study aimed to examine the correlation between serum LDH levels and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at the onset of treatment among patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This analytical observational study used cross-sectional design, involving patients with acute ischemic stroke hospitalized at Dr. Soetomo Surabaya Hospital, Indonesia, between February and May 2023. Participants were selected using consecutive sampling. Serum LDH levels and NIHSS score were measured upon admission. The correlation between LDH levels and NIHSS score was analyzed using the Spearman test, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

Results: A total of 30 patients were included, of whom 16 (53.3%) were male. A significant correlation was found between LDH levels and NIHSS scores (p=0.001). The correlation coefficient (r=0.785) indicated a strong positive correlation between serum LDH levels and stroke severity.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates a strong positive correlation between LDH levels and NIHSS scores at the onset of acute ischemic stroke treatment. These findings suggest that LDH may serve as a practical early biomarker for assessing stroke severity. Integrating LDH measurement into initial evaluation may facilitate faster risk stratification and support timely clinical decision-making. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate its prognostic role in routine practice.