Values for total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) activity and LDH isoenzymes 1 and 2 were determined in 80 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in 40 without AMI every 24 hours up to 15 days after admission, when total serum LDH level returned to normal. The sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of three LDH isoenzyme factors (LDH-1, greater than 90 U/L; LDH-1 greater than LDH-2; LDH-1/LDH ratio, greater than 0.4) for diagnosing AMI were assessed in three groups of patients according to total serum LDH values--group A, LDH level over 600 U/L; group B, 400 to 599 U/L; group C, 225 to 399 U/L--and in five groups of patients according to the time after admission--(1) first 48 hours; (2) three to five days; (3) six to eight days; (4) nine to 11 days; (5) 12 to 15 days. All three factors were found to be highly efficient for diagnosing AMI (91.5% to 97.5%) in groups A and B, but the most efficient factor in each group was LDH-1 value above 90 U/L. In group C, the only efficient factor was the LDH-1 value over 90 U/L (96%). The most efficient factor for diagnosing AMI in relation to time after admission up to 15 days after AMI was the LDH-1 value over 90 U/L (96% to 97.5%). The factors LDH-1 greater than LDH-2 and LDH-1/LDH above 0.4 were more efficient in patients up to five days after AMI (91.5% to 97.5%) than in patients six to 15 days after admission. We conclude that the most efficient LDH value for diagnosing AMI is the absolute value of LDH-1 above 90 U/L. Its superiority over other LDH isoenzyme values is best documented in a group of patients six to 15 days after admission and with only slight to moderate elevation of total serum LDH values (225 to 399 U/L).