1. Introduction to Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GLDH)

What is Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GLDH)? Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GLDH) is an enzyme primarily found in the mitochondria of hepatocytes (liver cells) and is involved in amino acid metabolism, catalyzing the reversible conversion of glutamate to alpha-ketoglutarate. Measuring GLDH activity in the blood is a specific marker for liver damage, particularly hepatocellular injury, as it is less affected by other organ dysfunctions compared to other liver enzymes like ALT or AST.

2. What is a GLDH Unit Converter?

Definition: The GLDH Unit Converter converts GLDH enzyme activity between various units, facilitating the interpretation of laboratory results across different measurement systems.

Purpose: It assists clinicians and laboratory professionals in standardizing GLDH activity values (e.g., from U/L to µkat/L), ensuring consistency when comparing results from different labs or regions for diagnosing liver conditions.

3. Importance of GLDH Unit Conversions

Converting GLDH activity between units is critical for:

• Standardizing Results: Different labs report GLDH activity in various units (e.g., U/L, µkat/L); conversion ensures consistency for diagnosis.
• Clinical Diagnosis: Accurate conversions help clinicians diagnose acute and chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or drug-induced liver injury, and monitor liver function.
• Research and Collaboration: Facilitates comparison of GLDH data across studies or institutions using different measurement standards.

4. Clinical Significance

Elevated Levels: High GLDH activity is a specific indicator of hepatocellular damage, often seen in acute hepatitis, toxic liver injury (e.g., from drugs or alcohol), liver ischemia, or cirrhosis. It is particularly useful for distinguishing liver-specific injury from other causes of elevated liver enzymes.

Low Levels: Low GLDH activity is typically not clinically significant, as it is usually within normal limits in healthy individuals. However, it may be reduced in end-stage liver disease due to loss of functional hepatocytes.

Normal Ranges:

• Serum: Typically 0–10 U/L (0–0.17 µkat/L) in healthy adults.
• Values vary by lab, assay, and patient factors—consult a healthcare provider for interpretation.

5. Precautions

Interferences:

• Medications, alcohol, or recent liver injury can elevate GLDH levels.
• GLDH should be interpreted alongside other liver function tests (e.g., ALT, AST, ALP) and clinical findings for accurate diagnosis.
• Sample handling (e.g., avoiding hemolysis, timely processing) is critical for reliable results—consult a healthcare provider for accuracy.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why are there different units for GLDH activity?
A: Different units reflect varying standards; katals (µkat/L, nkat/L) are SI units, while U/L and IU/L are traditional units widely used in clinical practice.

Q: What is a normal GLDH level?
A: Normal serum GLDH is typically 0–10 U/L (0–0.17 µkat/L). Levels vary by lab—consult a healthcare provider for interpretation.

Q: Can this converter be used for other liver enzymes?
A: No, this converter is specific to GLDH activity; other liver enzymes (e.g., ALT, AST) have different conversion factors—consult a healthcare provider for accuracy.