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6 days ago · Low ALP in pregnancy has been shown to predict IUGR of the fetus and a high-risk pregnancy. The low ALP during pregnancy probably reflects a reduced placental size or a decreased ability to produce ALP. According to a 2023 study published in The Lancet, serum ALP levels (≤116 IU/L) in late pregnancy increase the risk of venous thromboembolism.
- Overview
- Test Details
- Results and Follow-Up
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that’s found throughout your body. ALP blood tests measure the level of ALP in your blood that comes from your liver and bones, and it’s one of the tests included in a comprehensive metabolic panel. High levels of ALP in your blood may indicate liver disease or certain bone disorders.
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Who performs an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test?
A healthcare provider called a phlebotomist usually performs blood draws, including those for an ALP blood test, but any healthcare provider who is trained in drawing blood can perform this task. The samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and performs the test on machines known as analyzers. Advertisement
Do I need to fast for an alkaline phosphatase blood test?
If your alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test is part of a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), you’ll likely need to fast for 10 to 12 hours before your CMP blood test. Fasting means not eating or drinking anything other than water. In any case, your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions when they order a blood test for you. Be sure to follow them.
What should I expect during my alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test?
You can expect to experience the following during a blood test, or blood draw: You’ll sit in a chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. This is usually in the inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow. Once they’ve located a vein, they’ll clean and disinfect the area. They’ll then insert a small needle into your vein to take a blood sample. This may feel like a small pinch. After they insert the needle, a small amount of blood will collect in a test tube. Once they have enough blood to test, they’ll remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the site to stop the bleeding. They’ll place a bandage over the site, and you’ll be finished. The entire procedure usually takes less than five minutes.
What do the results of an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test mean?
Blood test reports, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test reports, usually provide the following information: The name of the blood test or what was measured in your blood. The number or measurement of your blood test result. The normal measurement range for that test. Information that indicates if your result is normal or abnormal or high or low.
What is the normal range for alkaline phosphatase (ALP)?
The normal range for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) varies from laboratory to laboratory. 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. Because of this, it’s important to check your test result report to see what your specific lab’s reference range is. It’s also important to note that normal alkaline phosphatase levels vary with age and sex. ALP levels are typically elevated during childhood and puberty due to bone growth and development. Between the ages of 15 to 50 years, ALP levels are slightly higher in males than females. ALP levels then rise again in old age. ALP levels may also be higher in pregnant people since ALP exists in the placenta and in people who are healing from a bone fracture (break).
What does it mean if my alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is high?
It’s important to note that elevated levels of ALP can range in severity. While a very high ALP level often means you have liver damage or a bone disorder, mildly elevated levels can be caused by many different factors — not necessarily a medical condition that needs treatment. If you only have a mild elevation in your ALP levels, your healthcare provider will likely not have you undergo extensive evaluation. Instead, they’ll likely monitor your levels over time to make sure they don’t get worse. High alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels may indicate that there’s damage to your liver or that you have a type of bone disorder. Liver damage creates a different type of ALP than bone disorders do. If your test results reveal that you have high ALP levels, your provider may have you undergo additional tests, such as an ALP isoenzyme test, to determine where the excess ALP is coming from. High alkaline phosphatase levels in the liver may indicate the following conditions: Cholestasis of pregnancy: This is a common liver disease that can develop late in pregnancy. Cirrhosis of the liver: Cirrhosis is a late-stage liver disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue and the liver is permanently damaged. Hepatitis: Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. There are many types of hepatitis. Biliary atresia: This is a rare condition that happens when there’s a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry bile from your liver to your gallbladder. It occurs in infants. Biliary stricture: This condition happens when the bile duct (the tube that takes bile from the liver to the small bowel) gets smaller or narrower. Biliary obstruction due to cancer: Certain cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic head adenocarcinoma, can block your bile ducts or pancreatic ducts. Mononucleosis (“mono”): This is a contagious infection that can sometimes cause swelling in your liver. High bone alkaline phosphatase levels may indicate the following conditions: Bone metastasis: This condition happens when cancer cells from elsewhere in your body spread to your bones. Paget’s disease of the bone (osteitis derformans): This is a rare chronic bone disorder in which there is excessive breakdown and regrowth in the affected bone(s). Osteogenic sarcoma: This is a type of cancer that starts in your bones. Healing fractures. Hyperparathyroidism: This condition happens when your parathyroid glands release too much parathyroid hormone, which causes calcium levels in your blood to rise. Hyperthyroidism: This condition happens when your thyroid produces and releases too much thyroid hormone. Osteomalacia: This is a disease that weakens your bones and can cause them to break more easily. It develops most commonly due to a vitamin D deficiency. A high level of ALP may also be a sign of untreated celiac disease.
Oct 25, 2013 · Symptoms and signs associated with the commonest pregnancy-specific liver diseases are pruritus, upper abdominal pain, and jaundice. Reference ranges for liver function tests for alanine and aspartate transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase are different in pregnancy. Abnormal liver function tests in conjunction with relevant ...
- Ian Walker, Lucy C Chappell, Catherine Williamson
- 2013
Blood tests and imaging are recommended to assist with diagnosis. Abnormal liver function test (LFT) results are observed in about 3% of pregnancies. 1 The physiological changes of pregnancy can unmask previously subclinical liver diseases, while disorders unique to pregnancy can also cause liver dysfunction. 2-4 This article gives an overview ...
Jul 24, 2023 · Elevated liver biochemical and function tests in pregnant patients may pose a challenge for the consulting clinician. Liver abnormalities detected during pregnancy require diagnostic evaluation similar to the evaluation of the nonpregnant patient but is also informed by gestational age and expected physiologic changes of pregnancy.
Feb 14, 2023 · Although considered liver injury tests, elevation in any or all of these enzymes does not necessarily mean you have liver damage. These enzymes are produced by other organs as well. For example, AST increases with muscle damage such as in a heart attack or muscle trauma. ALP is also produced by bone and in the placenta during pregnancy.
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Side effects of High Alkaline Phosphatase in Pregnancy. One possible complication is gestational diabetes. In one study of pregnant subjects, 29% of those with extremely high ALP levels had gestational diabetes mellitus [10]. Another risk is developing hypertensive disorders. The same study found that 29% of pregnant women with high ALP levels ...
