In the past, the aldolase blood test was ordered to diagnose and monitor certain conditions related to skeletal muscle and/or liver disease. It largely has been replaced by other enzyme tests such as CK (creatine kinase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and AST (aspartate aminotransferase), which are more specific indicators of muscle or liver damage. The aldolase test still receives some use in the monitoring of patients with muscular dystrophy.

Sources & Links
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Thomas, Clayton L., Editor (1997). Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA [18th Edition].

S2
Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (2001). Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 5th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pg 33-34.

S3
(2005) Aldolase, Serum [2 paragraphs]. ARUP’s Guide to Clinical Laboratory Testing [On-line information]. Available FTP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/clt/tests/clt_al31.jsp#1140973

S4
Dreal, V. (1994 December). Aldolase [1 paragraph]. Hermann Laboratory Handbook, University of Texas-Houston [On-line information]. Available FTP: http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/hcprof/00001000.htm

S5
Greco, F. (2004 February 9, Updated). Aldolase [11 paragraphs]. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available FTP: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003566.htm

S6
Saguil, A. (2005 April 1). Evaluation of the Patient with Muscle Weakness [31 paragraphs]. American Family Physician [On-line journal]. Available FTP: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050401/1327.html

S7
Nordenson, N. (2002 December). Aldolase Test [15 paragraphs]. HealthAtoZ [On-line information]. Available FTP: http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/aldolase_test.jsp