Re: Alkaline Phosphate Levels

Posted By Curtis Folkman on August 06, 1998 at 14:11:32:

In Reply to: Alkaline Phosphate Levels posted by L.M.M.D.HFHS on July 22, 1998 at 23:00:22:






: : : I have been concerned about my 9 year olds apparently early growth.
: : : Her Alkaline Phosphate level is 220. Is this abnormal in a 9 year old?
: : : I can't get a straight answer from our Health Care Providers. Thanks.
Responce : Alkaline Phosphatase
: : Dear Jan :
Normal levels of serum alkaline phosphatase tend to vary with age , the normal levels for a 9 year old child would range from 130-560 units/Liter (  your daughters levels being within the normal range if the test was measured in units/liter) but your family physician would have to check on the normal ranges for the lab that did the test.  
: : I would be glad to discuss the causes of increased serum alkaline phosphatase  if youre still interested and hope your daughter is doing well
: : Regards
L.M
Disclaimer : This information is supplied for educational purposes only .
Hi L.M.   I'm not sure if I am doing this right.  My 8 year old daughter's dr. called today and said that her alkaline phosphate levels were high.  They were 214.  The Dr.  was real vague as to what may cause this.  We will be doing another blood test next week to do a liver panel.  I see that you said you would be glad to discuss the causes of an increased serum.  Could you please let me know what my be the cause?  Thank you so much.
Michelle

Dear Michelle :
Thank you for your question .
I am including an alkaline phosphatase normal vlaue table based on age.
Group          Males         Females
Newborns(1-3 days)95-368 95-368
2-24 months 115-460         115-460
2-5 years 115-391         115-391
6-7 years 115-460         115-460
8-9 years 115-345         115-345
10-11 years 115-336         115-437
12-13 years 127-336         92-336
14-15 years 79-446         78-212
16-18 years 58-331         35-124
Adults         41-137         39-118

Please consider that some labs use adult reference values only .
Serum alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that exists in several organs , mainly the micro. spaces within the liver ( called sinusoids ) as well as bone , intestine and placenta .
It tends to be elevated in diseases that can produce injury to these sinusoids , like an obstruction or inflammation in the small bile ducts .
you can identify biliary disease by doing a liver profile ( or panel which will include other more specific enzymes that rise during liver or bile duct injury). These tests would be indicated if you had signs of liver or bile duct disease like stomachaches , vomiting ,jaundice , fever, chills ...etc.
Another reason maybe increased bone activity due to bone disease or destruction . Intestinal inflamation (inflammation) can also cause its elevation . Your doctor may have explained it in a vague manner only because an elevated level of alkaline phophatase may occur in a variety of illnesses involving any of these organs and is not specific to a certain disease.
Please talk to your doctor and confirm whether this level ( 214 u/L) was decided to be high based on her age or on the standard reference values used for adults .
We hope to hear from you soon
L.M.
Disclaimer : this information is for educational purposes only .
Keywords : alkaline phosphatase* , biliary disease* , liver disease*