REVIEW   

Panminerva Medica 2017 December;59(4):332-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0031-0808.16.03216-X

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Serum lactate dehydrogenase is a predictor of poor survival in malignant melanoma

Dong GAO ✉, Xianying MA

Department of Dermatology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China

INTRODUCTION: Recently, different studies suggested that the elevated serum concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was associated with poor prognosis of melanoma. However, the results were controversial.
BACKGROUND: We decided to perform a meta-analysis to assess the association between serum concentration of LDH and the overall survival (OS) of melanoma.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Online electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane database) were searched. The association of LDH and the OS of melanoma was estimated by hazard ratio (HR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI).
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 13 eligible studies with 4036 patients met the inclusion criteria. LDH level was significantly associated with OS in melanoma patients (HR=1.97, 95% CI 1.62-2.40, P<0.00001; I2=78%). In addition, LDH level was also significantly associated with OS in stage IV melanoma patients (HR=1.99, 95% CI 1.59-2.50, P<0.00001; I2=79%). In the subgroup analysis by study design, a statistically significant association was found in retrospective cohort studies (HR=2.31, 95% CI 1.18- 4.51, P=0.01; I2=87%) and in prospective cohort studies (HR=1.87, 95% CI 1.55-2.26, P<0.00001; I2=73%). In the subgroup analysis by sample size, LDH level was significantly associated with OS in large sample size studies (HR=1.61, 95% CI 1.17-2.23, P=0.003; I2=73%) and small sample size studies (HR=2.18, 95% CI 1.69-2.80, P <0.00001; I2=79%).
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that high LDH level might be a predictor of poor prognosis of melanoma patients.

KEY WORDS: Melanoma - L-lactate dehydrogenase - Prognosis