What does alkaline phosphatase test mean?

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Alkaline phosphatase or ALP (alkaline phosphatase) is an enzyme present in the body's tissues including the mother's bones, liver, kidneys, intestines, and placenta. Currently, alkaline phosphatase tests are mainly used to diagnose liver and bone diseases.

1. What is an alkaline phosphatase test?

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) occurs in tissues throughout the body, but is highest in the liver and bones.
In the liver, alkaline phosphatase appears at the cell edges and forms a small duct that dilates bile that moves from the liver to the intestine. Alkaline phosphate in the intestines helps to digest the daily amount of fat in food. While bone alkaline phosphatase is produced from osteoblasts, different tissues from bone will also have a different shape of ALP.
Alkaline phosphatase test by examining and analyzing the operator's venous blood sample. If the level of phosphatase in the blood is high, then there is a problem with your liver and bones. In addition, when high ALP can raise suspicion of kidney tumor and malnutrition, it is necessary to perform intensive tests to make the most accurate diagnosis.
However, one thing that readers should note is that the alkaline phosphatase index at each age will have a different value, and also depends on the blood type of the person testing.

2. Indication of alkaline phosphatase test

As mentioned above, alkaline phosphatase test mainly checks for liver and bone diseases, so when you feel the following symptoms, you need to have an ALP test to check:
Symptoms of liver disease:
Jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea Check liver function when using drugs that can affect the liver. Symptoms of bone disease:
Can be found on X-rays and then tested for examination such as: Rickets, osteosarcoma, paget (abnormal bone structure disorder). Too much hormone that controls bone growth (parathyroid hormone) Check for vitamin D deficiency.

3. What to look out for when performing an alkaline phosphatase test?

To get the most accurate results for alkaline phosphatase test, you need to keep in mind the following issues:
Before the test, you should not eat too much or drink a lot of water. The operator may be asked not to eat or drink for a period of 10 hours. Do not use drugs that can increase alkaline phosphatase levels such as: Colchicine, azathioprine, fluoride. Do not use drugs that reduce alkaline phosphatase such as: Zinc salts, cyanide,... Give your doctor your medical records, medications you are taking to check for ingredients that may affect test results. Blood samples must be stored in a test vessel containing anticoagulant. Because the alkaline phosphatase test is done by venipuncture, the following may occur:
Bruising at the site of blood collection, bruising can be reduced by keeping pressure on the blood collection site for several minutes. Venous swelling is rare, but if it does, it needs to be treated right away.

4. What do alkaline phosphatase test results say?

4.1 Normal blood alkaline phosphatase values ​​by age Children under 2 years old: ~ 85 - 235 units/L Children 2 - 8 years old: ~ 65 - 210 units/L From 9 - 15 years old: ~ 60 - 300 units/L 16 - 21 years old: ~ 30 - 200 units/L Over 21 years old: ~ 30 - 120 units/L 4.2 Abnormal alkaline phosphatase value 4.2.1 High alkaline phosphatase value Price High blood phosphatase treatment can reflect liver problems such as: Hepatitis, bile duct obstruction (jaundice), gallstones, liver cancer, cirrhosis, in the worst case, the tumor has spread to the organs. other parts of the body.
High blood phosphatase values ​​also reflect bone diseases such as: osteomalacia, paget, rickets, osteosarcoma, in severe cases, tumors metastasized to other locations on the body.
Note: Some of the following causes may increase alkaline phosphatase in the blood:
Healed fracture wounds increase alkaline phosphatase levels. Diseases: Heart failure, kidney cancer, mononucleosis. Sepsis (the patient has a serious infection of the whole body) Women in the third trimester of pregnancy, the amount of phosphatase appears in the mother's placenta. If phosphatase values ​​are high and pathology is suspected, further examination with further tests or computed tomography is needed to confirm.
Some liver function tests can be done with alkaline phosphatase tests: Tests for bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase.
4.2.2 Low alkaline Phosphatase value Malnutrition diseases Lack of some nutrients in the diet. Hereditary bone hypophosphatasia. The liver and bones are both organs that play an important role in the human body, alkaline phosphatase test helps to detect abnormalities related to these two organs. From there, there are methods of timely examination and treatment, without causing life-threatening complications or metastases.
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