Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc.] The normal range of ALP varies from person to person and depends on your age, blood type, gender, and whether youre pregnant. Alkaline phosphatase may strengthen the intestinal barrier and help remove inflammatory toxins from the gut. (2013). Low ALP can also indicate a rare condition called hypophosphatasia. In pregnant people, ALP is made in the placenta. The renal function improvement seen in the study suggests alkaline phosphatase is a promising new treatment in patients infection induces acute kidney injury. Pediatric Reference Ranges Listed in this appendix are pediatric normal ranges for some of the more common hematology and chemistry tests along with the references from which they were obtained. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. Most people with abnormal ALP levels have high, rather than low, levels. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a protein found in all body tissues. Here to serve you The enzyme is sensitive to obstructive biliary processes, even small secondary bile duct obstruction, and thus may be increased in those patients when the bilirubin is normal due to compensatory bilirubin excretion by the rest of the liver. Philadelphia:WB Saunders Company, 1999; 676-684. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase removes phosphate groups from toxic microbial molecules, such as leftover DNAs and parts of bad bacteria. ALP values that fall outside these reference ranges are considered abnormal. Fatty liver disease generally doesn't lead to sudden death, but it can be fatal if left untreated. Mg and Zn ions are required for minimal activity. Testing schedules may vary. 2014; 147: pp. Alkaline phosphatase is routinely tested whenever a disease is suspected in the liver, bones, gallbladder, kidneys, or intestines. Frustrated by the lack of good information and tools, Joe decided to embark on a learning journey to decode his DNA and track his biomarkers in search of better health. Increases in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity commonly originate from either one or both of 2 sources: liver and bone. Through this personalized approach, he discovered his genetic weaknesses and was able to optimize his health 10X better than he ever thought was possible. 0.7 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.). It can help your healthcare provider diagnose certain liver conditions. Hypervitaminosis D may cause elevations in alkaline phosphatase. If liver damage is suspected, high ALP levels may point to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), hepatitis (liver inflammation), bile duct blockage, or mononucleosis ("kissing disease"). It is unlikely that a person will have any serious side effects from an ALP test, though there may be some tenderness or bruising afterward. The activity of ALP found in serum is a composite of isoenzymes from those sites and, in some circumstances, placental or Regan isoenzymes. An ALP test usually takes less than 5 minutes. . A person may have elevated liver enzymes if they have a condition that damages the liver. Learn the signs and symptoms of gallbladder problems here. Information is shared for educational purposes only. Alkaline phosphatase: An overview. In rickets and osteomalacia, serum calcium and phosphorus are low to normal, and alkaline phosphatase may be normal or increased. 6. The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. ALP plays a role in numerous processes in the human body, and any abnormalities in blood concentrationseither high or lowmay be indicative of diseases ranging from gallstones and thyroid disease to hepatitis and cancer. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The normal range for children is higher than that for adults, especially for infants and teens because their bones are growing rapidly. ALP is produced mainly by the liver and bones but is also synthesized in smaller quantities by the intestines and kidneys. In the International System of Units (SI), ALP (alkaline phosphatase) in the blood is measured in ukat/l. 2012;16(2):199-229. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2012.03.012. Gilbert syndrome: Increase in intestinal alkaline phosphatase is seen.7. Fogel EL, Sherman S. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Pediatric reference intervals are based on Meites S. Pediatric Clinical Chemistry: Reference (Normal) Values. This enzyme functions in an alkaline environment (optimum pH of 10). 2. High levels of ALP are normally seen in children undergoing growth spurts and in pregnant women. A person may be able to conduct the ALP test at home. 2012;3(3):478-83. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. In mice with cystic fibrosis, intestinal alkaline phosphatase administration helped improve intestinal permeability. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. The normal range is 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L) or 0.73 to 2.45 microkatal per liter (kat/L). Recommendations on measurement units - why and how. 3,4. Your doctor may want to find the source of high ALP levels, or explain why ALP is low. The normal range of values of ALP differs by age and pregnancy status. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Medications can also change your ALP levels, so be sure to tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. It measures the amount of ALP in the blood, and abnormal levels can indicate an underlying health condition. The normal range is 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L) or 0.73 to 2.45 microkatal per liter (kat/L). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test is generally used to investigate for liver or bone disease. This procedure does not provide serial monitoring; it is intended for one-time use only. 2018;7:2. doi:10.4172/2167-0889.1000228. Healing infarcts in other organs, including kidney, may also cause increased alkaline phosphatase); other situations in which angiofibroplasia occurs, such as healing in a large decubitus ulcer. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Normal values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. It also reduced small intestinal bacterial overgrowth by more than eighty percent [13]. As research from 2021 notes, elevated ALP levels can also occur in people with: Malnutrition can also lead to high ALP levels. If the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is high and the GGT is in normal range it suggests a bone disorder. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. The response of the liver to any form of biliary tree obstruction induces the synthesis of ALP by hepatocytes. Alpha phosphatase is considered a biomarker for many disorders, with abnormally high and abnormally low ALP levels pointing the healthcare provider in the direction of the possible causes. Intestinal ALP isoenzyme, an asialoglycoprotein normally cleared by the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptors, is often increased in patients with liver cirrhosis. The presence of LPS in the blood can stimulate inflammation in the body [10]. In that case you must use the respective reference tables. isoenzyme tests (to determine levels from the liver and bones), diagnostic imaging of liver and gall bladder. 0.5-2.0 ng/mL. Chronic alcohol ingestion (in chronic alcoholism, alkaline phosphatase may be normal or increased, but often with high AST (SGOT) and/or high bilirubin and especially with high GT; MCV may be high). Ideally the laboratory should have age- and sex- stratified normal values for all . Pancreatitis, carcinoma of pancreas, cystic fibrosis. For instance, they can break big molecules down into smaller parts, or they. Infiltrative liver diseases (eg, sarcoid, TB, amyloidosis, abscess). Serum ALP was the first enzyme to be used for the investigation of hepatic disease. It is present in the liver, bile ducts, bones, intestine and placenta. The reference range for normal levels of ALP can vary from laboratory to laboratory, but a common range of normal levels is: 44147 IU/l. Dean B. Andropoulos Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children 's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA . Symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting may lead your doctor to suspect somethings wrong with your liver or gallbladder. nhs.uk/Conditions/Rickets/Pages/Introduction.aspx, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4062654/, Identifying Gallbladder Problems and Their Symptoms, Bone Cancer: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and More, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, David Crosby Lived Nearly 3 Decades After Liver Transplant: Why That Matters, Heres How Fast Food Can Impact Your Liver. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/alkaline-phosphatase/, https://www.testing.com/tests/alkaline-phosphatase-alp/, https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/healthy-eating/what-is-malnutrition, https://sites.kowsarpub.com/zjrms/articles/102994.html, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459201/, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. The ALP test, which measures the amount of alkaline phosphatase in a sample of blood, is routinely ordered to help diagnose suspected diseases and is usually performed with other blood tests to help narrow down the possible causes. Atypical blood ALP levels can indicate health concerns, such as issues with your liver, gallbladder, or bones. Alkaline Phosphatase, Serum Useful For Diagnosing and monitoring treatment of liver, bone, intestinal, and parathyroid diseases Method Name Colorimetric NY State Available Yes Reporting Name Alkaline Phosphatase, S Aliases Alkaline Phosphatase For children, this range is under 350 U/L. One common reference range is from 44 to 147 international units per liter (IU/L), but some organizations recommend a range of 30 to 120 IU/L. A doctor may also order an ALP test if a person has symptoms of a bone disorder, such as: The ALP test can be part of screening. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 146. 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alkaline phosphatase: normal range by age