Prognostic Value of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in Acute Organophosphorus Poisoning: A Tertiary Care Study on Severity and Mortality Outcomes

Abstract

Acute organophosphorus poisoning (AOP) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in agricultural regions where pesticide exposure is prevalent. Biomarkers that can predict the severity and outcome of poisoning are crucial for guiding early clinical interventions. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in assessing the severity and mortality risk in patients with AOP. A retrospective observational study was conducted on 200 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital with confirmed organophosphorus poisoning. LDH levels were measured at admission and correlated with clinical severity scores, need for ventilatory support, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality outcomes. The findings demonstrated that elevated LDH levels were significantly associated with higher poisoning severity, prolonged ICU stay, and increased mortality risk. Patients with LDH levels above the critical threshold had a threefold higher likelihood of requiring mechanical ventilation and developing multi-organ dysfunction. The study concludes that LDH is a valuable prognostic biomarker in AOP and can be used as an early predictor of disease severity and clinical outcomes. Further prospective studies are recommended to validate these findings and optimize LDH-based risk stratification protocols.