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Objective:

Determine the significance and clinical use of alkaline phosphatase in clinical practice

Lab Test Name:

Alkaline Phosphatase – ALP

Description:

Measures amount of ALP in circulation

Located in several places in the body:

• Liver
• Intestines
• Biliary tract
• Bones
• Placenta

Different isoenzymes of ALP are used to determine:

• Liver, bone, intestine and other cancers
• Bone turnover in postmenopausal women

Indications:

Evaluation of ALP:

• Hepatobiliary disease
• Malignancies
• Bone disease
• Bone damage in renal patients

Normal Therapeutic Values:

Normal – 40-130 U/L

Collection:

• Plasma separator tube

What would cause increased levels?

Increased levels assessed in:

• Liver disease
• Bone disease
• Pregnancy
• Amyloidosis
• Lung cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Congestive heart failure
• Ulcerative colitis
• Hodgkin's disease
• Chronic renal failure
• Sarcoidosis

What would cause decreased levels?

• Hypophosphatasia (spelling error on existing outline on NURSING.com)
• Anemia
• Kwashiorkor
• Cretinism
• Hypothyroidism
• Zinc or magnesium deficiency
• Scurvy