Aldolase is an enzyme that helps the body convert the food sugars of glucose into usable energy that is needed. It can be found throughout the entire body, but the highest concentration levels tend to be within the liver and the muscles. The aldolase blood test is used to determine if there may be liver damage present or a muscle injury. It can be problematic as a test, however, because the results are quite non-specific.
This means the aldolase blood test is no longer ordered on a regular basis. It is typically used today to determine if there is a muscle wasting issue that must be addressed or to determine if a heart attack has occurred. Some medical providers may also use this test to help determine if liver cirrhosis is an issue which needs to be addressed. Genetic conditions that affect the skeletal muscles can also be detected with the aldolase blood test.
What Do My Test Results Mean?
Most people will have a test result that falls within the normal range for this enzyme. Although variations of what is classified as normal vary from laboratory to laboratory, in general the range of normal is 1-7.5 u/L.
Test results that are below 1 u/L may be medically insignificant. It simply means there is less of the enzyme present to help convert glucose into energy. It may also be an indication of an advanced stage of a muscle wasting disease. When muscle tissue is destroyed, it will first spike the body’s aldolase levels, but as muscle tissue amounts decrease, so do the overall levels of aldolase. It is possible to have a muscle wasting disease and have test result be within the normal range.
High aldolasae levels occur in anyone who works out frequently. A strenuous weight lifting exercise routine is enough to have abnormal aldolase levels. If you exercise often and do so strenuously, then you’ll need to inform your medical provider of this before the aldolase blood test sample is taken.
High test results, which may be communicated as abnormal, can be an indication that a serious health condition has occurred. Outside of muscle damage and a heart attack, a medical provider may look at these additional potential illnesses or diseases.
- Liver damage.
The damage may have occurred because of cancer, the presence of hepatitis, or as a result of lifestyle habits like heavy alcoholic beverage use. - Cancer.
Men have higher aldolase levels when there is prostate cancer. Leukemia and pancreas cancers have also been linked to abnormal results. - Other conditions.
Gangrene, dermatomyositis, mononucleosis, and hyperaldolasemia are also linked to higher than normal test results.
Here’s What You Need to Know
Testing for certain health conditions with the aldolase blood test alone is not effective for diagnostic screening. This is why this blood test is often ordered with a series of other tests to help determine what the actual physical problem may be. Men and women both fall within the normal range of results, but their test results can vary slightly, so be sure to speak with a medical provider about what your results mean for your medical history.
For an accurate test result, it may be necessary to fast for a minimum of 6 hours. If you exercise strenuously on a frequent basis, you may be asked to stop 3-5 days before the blood sample is to be taken so that lifestyle habits do not create a false positive.
Based on the findings of the aldolase blood test, other additional tests may be ordered. A medical provider may wish to check for liver damage through the ALT blood test or the AST test, while muscle cell damage can be confirmed with an LDH blood test or the CPK test.
The aldolase blood test may be ordered in a series of tests for individuals who are suspected to have ALS.
Just because the blood test has been ordered does not mean that a medical provider thinks that Lou Gehrig’s disease may be present.
Most people will have a normal aldolase blood test. If there are changes to your personal enzyme levels and your test results are concerning, then be sure to use this guide to speak with a medical provider about your concerns. Only a comparison of specific results to a unique medical history can give you the answers you may need to the questions you have about your health.