Abstract
Summary
1. Marked elevations of plasma LDH activity in experimental hemorrhagic shock are described. An initial lag period is followed by a sharp rise to 15 to 50 times the original value. 2. Alterations of plasma LDH activity in shock bear a consistent relationship to such parameters of biological deterioration as rate of spontaneous return of blood from the reservoir to the animal (“taking up”) and reversibility to replacement transfusion. 3. Catheterization experiments in which consistent arterio-venous differences were demonstrated indicate that the sources of elevated plasma LDH activity are widespread and include liver, kidney and tissues of an extremity. 4. Electrophoretic separation of normal dog plasma reveals 4 enzymes with LDH activity. All 4 are elevated in plasma of dogs in shock. 5. Marked elevations of plasma GO-T, MDH and alkaline phosphatase were observed in dog plasma during hemorrhagic hypotension. No significant elevations in beta-glucuronidase, alpha-glucosidase, leucine aminopeptidase and ceruloplasmin occurred. 6. These experiments suggest that serial plasma LDH determinations may serve as useful indicators of the extent of biological deterioration in hemorrhagic shock.
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