You might panic if you have high levels of alkaline phosphatase as this can sometimes indicate liver cancer or other serious illness. Rest assured, however, that high levels often correlate with many less serious conditions, including pregnancy and over-the-counter drug use. Working calmly with your doctor to identify the cause for the elevation is the best approach.
Definitions
Alkaline phosphatase -- often refers to as "ALP" or "Alk Phos" on lab sheets -- is an isoenzyme. Isoenzymes are groups of slightly different enzymes that work together to perform the same function. Although alkaline phosphatase found in the bile ducts is slightly different from alkaline phosphatase found in bone, both do the same thing: They remove phosphate groups from many different molecules.
Drug Usage
Many common over-the-counter and prescription drugs can elevate alkaline phosphatase levels. For example, hypertension drugs such as propanolol or verapamil or gout treatments such as allopurinol can raise levels. Antibiotics such as erythomycin and ulcer treatments such as ranitidine are also common culprits. Reviewing all medications with your doctor is a good first step when determining why levels might be elevated.
Liver Diseases
High alkaline phosphatase levels can be associated with various liver diseases such as as hepatic cancer, cirrhosis, fatty liver and hepatitis. Doctors will usually run what is called a liver panel, also known as a hepatic function test. This is a simple blood test, usually done in conjunction with alkaline phosphatase. By looking at a variety of liver enzymes, doctors can assess liver function.
Bone Growth
Alkaline phosphatase is also evidence of bone growth, which is why this enzyme is elevated in both pregnant women and children. For example, while normal adult levels range from 30 to 120 UL, levels in children can be as high as 500 UL. In addition to this healthy growth, high alkaline phosphatase levels are symptomatic of uncontrolled growth such as that found in bone cancers and Paget's disease.
