What Level of Alkaline Phosphatase is Dangerous?
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme present in our blood. It helps in the breakdown of proteins. It is called a liver enzyme because it is found in the liver mostly but also in different places of our body, such as the bones, kidneys and intestine. An ALP test is done to measure the level of ALP in the blood to find out the level of ALP, whether it is high or low. If it is high, then you may have liver disease or bone disease, and if it is low, then you may have some other health conditions.
What is an ALP test?
The ALP test measures the amount of ALP in the blood to find out its level and any underlying health condition. An ALP test is done if a person has symptoms of a bone disorder, such as bone pain, joint pain, weak bones or unusually shaped bones. The ALP test is also done on the people having the symptoms of liver condition, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice, weakness and dark urine.
There are two main types of alkaline phosphatase blood tests:
1.General ALP blood test
This general ALP blood test is the most common test of ALP. It includes a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and a liver panel (HFP or LFT) blood test. This test only measures the level of ALP in the blood of that part.
2.ALP isoenzyme test
On the other hand, the ALP ISO enzyme test can identify alkaline phosphate types and from which part of the body they came. It provides more detailed information as compared to a general ALP blood test.
What is the normal range for alkaline phosphatase (ALP)?
The alkaline phosphatase test is measured in international units per liter, and it varies from laboratory to laboratory. The normal range of an ALP is from 44 to 147 IU/L. This range varies according to place; at some places the normal range of ALP is 30-130 IU/L. This level of ALP also very much depends upon the person's age and sex. This given level of ALP is for the age of 18 years and older. The level of ALP in males is higher than in females between the ages of 15 and 50 years. ALP level is also higher in pregnant women because of the presence of the placenta, in which ALP is also present.
What happens if my alkaline phosphatase level is high?
If your ALP level is high, it means that you have liver damage or a bone disorder. But you need to go through additional blood tests to find out which issue you have and from where the excess ALP is coming. This is because liver damage and bone disorder both create different types of ALP. You should visit your practitioner to monitor your ALP levels and for additional tests, such as the ALP isoenzyme test.
If you have a high alkaline phosphatase level in your liver, then you may have these conditions:
● Hepatitis is one of the conditions caused by the inflammation of the liver.
● Pregnancy issues such as cholestasis of pregnancy are some of the common liver diseases that happen during pregnancy.
● Some cancers can also affect your bile duct and pancreatic ducts, which cause biliary obstruction.
● Liver disease, such as cirrhosis of the liver, in which the liver is permanently damaged.
● An infection that can cause swelling in your liver, also called mononucleosis.
If you have high bone alkaline phosphatase levels, you may have these conditions:
● Osteomalacia is a disease that we can see in the bones and make them break easily, which happens due to a lack of vitamin D.
● Bone metastasis is another bone disease caused by the spreading of cancer cells into your bones.
● Bone cancer, also called osteogenic sarcoma, is also one of the conditions.
● When there is too much release of parathyroid hormone from your parathyroid glands, a condition called hyperparathyroidism occurs, which can cause calcium levels in your blood to rise.
What happens if my alkaline phosphatase level is low?
You may have a low ALP level, but it is not very common compared to people having a high ALP level. Low ALP levels in a person's body are mostly due to the lack of many things. Some of the conditions are given below:
● Deficiency of zinc is one of the conditions caused by low ALP levels.
● Another condition is malnutrition, which is common in people with low ALP.
● Magnesium deficiency also occurs in persons having low ALP levels.
● Hypothyroidism happens because of low ALP levels in the body.
● Some genetic conditions are also included in this.
What factors affect my ALP level?
The high or low LP level does not mean you have a medical condition. There are many other factors that can also affect ALP levels in the body, including your diet plans. Some medications can also cause abnormal levels of ALP, such as pregnancy contraceptive pills. Growing children or teens also have higher levels of ALP because their bones are growing. And people having AIDS may also have a chance of having a higher level of ALP.
When should I visit my doctor?
You never know if your ALP level is high or low, but you should visit your doctor when you feel an uncommon symptom. Or if you are suffering from diseases such as jaundice or bone disorders, and even if you are diagnosed with these conditions, you still need to visit your practitioner if you feel any of the uncommon symptoms.
