Alkaline phosphatase is a complex of enzymes responsible for the transport of phosphorus in the body. The structures similar in structure are most active in the alkaline medium, hence the name "alkaline phosphatase".
Biochemical blood test includes a test for determining the level of alkaline phosphatase. In some cases, the study reveals an increase in the content of the enzyme. Let's find out why alkaline phosphatase can be increased.
The causes of high alkaline phosphatase
In the blood of a healthy person alkaline phosphatase is contained in small amounts. From the point of view of physiology, the reason why alkaline phosphatase is increased several times is the death of many cells in the body. Consequently, the excess of the enzyme norm in most cases indicates the development of the disease. This increases the level of alkaline phosphatase in the following diseases and pathological conditions:
- inflammatory and necrotic processes in the liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancer, parasitic lesions of the organ);
- stagnation of bile as a result of cholestasis;
- Infectious lesions of the intestines, accompanied by diarrhea, and ulcerative colitis;
- pathological disturbances in bone tissue, mainly in cancer and bone metastases;
- deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in the body;
- ailments associated with changes in the course of phosphorus-calcium metabolism (hyperparathyroidism, rachitis);
- diabetes mellitus ;
- myocardial infarction;
- acute and chronic renal failure.
It should be noted that most serious diseases, including cancer of internal organs, lead to an increase in alkaline phosphatase.
But not always an increase in the content of the enzyme is pathological in nature. So, alkaline phosphatase is slightly increased in pregnant women, the reason is the development of the placenta in the body of a woman. Active growth in childhood and pubertal period, when cells are renewed especially intensively, is the reason that in children the normal enzyme content is 2-3 times higher than in adults.
Physiological causes, when alkaline phosphatase is increased in the range of 140 IU / l, can be:
- menopause in women ;
- regeneration processes in bone tissue during healing of fractures;
- recovery after surgery;
- reception of hepatotoxic drugs (antibiotics, oral contraceptives).
Predisposing factors are obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking.
Therapy with elevated alkaline phosphatase
If the cause of changes in the level of alkaline phosphatase is pregnancy or fracture, then take any action is not necessary, over time the indicator will come back to normal.
When the treatment of pathological conditions is prescribed, when alkaline phosphatase is increased, the specialists proceed from the cause. In order to determine exactly what causes an increase in the enzyme content, it is recommended to undergo additional studies, including measuring the level of gamma-glutamyl transferase in the blood, to assess the liver status - to detect the amount of bilirubin and creatine kinase, etc. After evaluating the results of the tests, the therapist can direct the patient to a narrow a specialist, for example, an endocrinologist or an oncologist. It is the doctor of narrow specialization who will select an individual therapeutic technique.
In order to normalize the parameters of alkaline phosphatase, medications can be prescribed.
Attention! A significant increase in the level of alkaline phosphatase during pregnancy is a sign of pathology, an alarm signal warning of damage to the placenta cells.