26548 Aldolase, Serum (ALS)

​​Aldolase, S; Fructose-Biphosphate Aldolase​

​Detection of muscle disease​

​Centrifuge within 1 hour of collection and aliquot serum into plastic vial.

Send refrigerated.

Gross Hemolysis

Gross Lipemia

Gross Icterus

​Aldolase is necessary for glycolysis in muscle as a "rapid response" pathway for production of adenosine triphosphate, independent of tissue oxygen.​

Aldolase catalyzes the conversion of fructose 1,6-diphosphate into dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, an important reaction in the glycolytic breakdown of glucose to lactate in muscle.

Aldolase is a tetramer whose primary structure depends upon the tissue from which it was synthesized (highest expression in liver, muscle, brain).

Elevated values are found in muscle diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and limb-girdle dystrophy. While elevated creatinine kinase (CK) levels are more sensitive and specific for muscle disease, occasionally elevated aldolase is observed in some patients with myositis that have normal CK values.

​Measuring serum muscle enzymes is common in the evaluation of patients with muscle weakness or muscle myalgia. When elevated, serum muscle enzymes can help differentiate muscle disease derived muscle weakness from a neurogenic cause. The highest levels of aldolase are found in progressive (Duchenne) muscular dystrophy. Lesser elevations are found in dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and limb-girdle dystrophy. In dystrophic conditions causing hyperaldolasemia, the increase in aldolase becomes less dramatic as muscle mass decreases.