Alkaline Phosphatase and Isoenzymes

Alkaline Phosphatase and Isoenzymes

Common use

Specimen

Normal findings

Description

This procedure is contraindicated for

N/A

Indications

• Evaluate signs and symptoms of various disorders associated with elevated ALP levels, such as biliary obstruction, hepatobiliary disease, and bone disease, including malignant processes
• Differentiate obstructive hepatobiliary tract disorders from hepatocellular disease; greater elevations of ALP are seen in the former
• Determine effects of renal disease on bone metabolism
• Determine bone growth or destruction in children with abnormal growth patterns

Potential diagnosis

Increased in

• Related to release of alkaline phosphatase from damaged bone, biliary tract, and liver cells

• Liver disease:
  • Biliary atresia
  • Biliary obstruction (acute cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, primary biliary cirrhosis)
  • Cancer
  • Chronic active hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Diabetes (diabetic hepatic lipidosis)
  • Extrahepatic duct obstruction
  • Granulomatous or infiltrative liver diseases (sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, TB)
  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Intrahepatic biliary hypoplasia
  • Toxic hepatitis
  • Viral hepatitis
• Bone disease:
  • Healing fractures
  • Metabolic bone diseases (rickets, osteomalacia)
  • Metastatic tumors in bone
  • Osteogenic sarcoma
  • Osteoporosis
  • Paget’s disease (osteitis deformans)
• Other conditions:
  • Advanced pregnancy (related to additional sources: placental tissue and new fetal bone growth; marked decline is seen with placental insufficiency and imminent fetal demise)
  • Cancer of the breast, colon, gallbladder, lung, or pancreas
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Familial hyperphosphatemia
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Perforated bowel
  • Pneumonia
  • Pulmonary and myocardial infarctions
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Ulcerative colitis

Decreased in

Anemia (severe) Celiac disease Folic acid deficiency HIV-1 infection Hypervitaminosis D Hypophosphatasia (related to insufficient phosphorus source for ALP production; congenital and rare) Hypothyroidism (characteristic in infantile and juvenile cases) Nutritional deficiency of zinc or magnesium Pernicious anemia Scurvy (related to vitamin C deficiency) Whipple’s disease Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Critical findings

N/A

Interfering factors

• Drugs that may increase ALP levels by causing cholestasis include anabolic steroids, erythromycin, ethionamide, gold salts, imipramine, interleukin-2, isocarboxazid, nitrofurans, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, sulfonamides, and tolbutamide.
• Drugs that may increase ALP levels by causing hepatocellular damage include acetaminophen (toxic), amiodarone, anticonvulsants, arsenicals, asparaginase, bromocriptine, captopril, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, enflurane, ethionamide, foscarnet, gentamicin, indomethacin, lincomycin, methyldopa, naproxen, nitrofurans, probenecid, procainamide, progesterone, ranitidine, tobramycin, tolcapone, and verapamil.
• Drugs that may cause an overall decrease in ALP levels include alendronate, azathioprine, calcitriol, clofibrate, estrogens with estrogen replacement therapy, and ursodiol.
• Hemolyzed specimens may cause falsely elevated results.
• Elevations of ALP may occur if the patient is nonfasting, usually 2 to 4 hr after a fatty meal, and especially if the patient is a Lewis-positive secretor of blood group B or O.

Nursing Implications and Procedure

Pretest

• Positively identify the patient using at least two unique identifiers before providing care, treatment, or services.
• Patient Teaching: Inform the patient this test can assist with determining the presence of liver or bone disease.
• Obtain a history of the patient’s complaints, including a list of known allergens, especially allergies or sensitivities to latex.
• Obtain a history of the patient’s hepatobiliary and musculoskeletal systems, symptoms, and results of previously performed laboratory tests and diagnostic and surgical procedures.
• Obtain a list of the patient’s current medications, including herbs, nutritional supplements, and nutraceuticals (see Effects of Natural Products on Laboratory Values online at DavisPlus).
• Review the procedure with the patient. Inform the patient that specimen collection takes approximately 5 to 10 min. Address concerns about pain and explain that there may be some discomfort during the venipuncture.
• Sensitivity to social and cultural issues, as well as concern for modesty, is important in providing psychological support before, during, and after the procedure.
• Note that there are no food, fluid, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.

Intratest

• Potential complications: N/A
• Avoid the use of equipment containing latex if the patient has a history of allergic reaction to latex.
• Instruct the patient to cooperate fully and to follow directions. Direct the patient to breathe normally and to avoid unnecessary movement.
• Observe standard precautions, and follow the general guidelines in Patient Preparation and Specimen Collection. Positively identify the patient, and label the appropriate specimen container with the corresponding patient demographics, initials of the person collecting the specimen, date, and time of collection. Perform a venipuncture.
• Remove the needle and apply direct pressure with dry gauze to stop bleeding. Observe/assess venipuncture site for bleeding and hematoma formation and secure gauze with adhesive bandage.
• Promptly transport the specimen to the laboratory for processing and analysis.

Post-Test

• Inform the patient that a report of the results will be made available to the requesting health-care provider (HCP), who will discuss the results with the patient.
• Nutritional Considerations: Increased ALP levels may be associated with liver disease. Dietary recommendations may be indicated and vary depending on the severity of the condition. A low-protein diet may be in order if the patient’s liver has lost the ability to process the end products of protein metabolism. A diet of soft foods may be required if esophageal varices have developed. Ammonia levels may be used to determine whether protein should be added to or reduced from the diet. Patients should be encouraged to eat simple carbohydrates and emulsified fats (as in homogenized milk or eggs) rather than complex carbohydrates (e.g., starch, fiber, and glycogen [animal carbohydrates]) and complex fats, which require additional bile to emulsify them so that they can be used. The cirrhotic patient should be carefully observed for the development of ascites, in which case fluid and electrolyte balance requires strict attention.
• Reinforce information given by the patient’s HCP regarding further testing, treatment, or referral to another HCP. Answer any questions or address any concerns voiced by the patient or family.
• Depending on the results of this procedure, additional testing may be performed to evaluate or monitor progression of the disease process and determine the need for a change in therapy. Evaluate test results in relation to the patient’s symptoms and other tests performed.

Related Monographs

• Related tests include acetaminophen, ALT, albumin, ammonia, anti-DNA antibodies, AMA/ASMA, ANA, α₁-antitrypsin, α₁-antitrypsin phenotyping, AST, bilirubin, biopsy bone, biopsy liver, bone scan, BMD, calcium, ceruloplasmin, collagen cross-linked telopeptides, C3 and C4, complements, copper, ERCP, GGT, hepatitis antigens and antibodies, hepatobiliary scan, KUB studies, magnesium, MRI abdomen, MRI venography, osteocalcin, PTH, phosphorus, potassium, protein, protein electrophoresis, PT/INR, salicylate, sodium, US abdomen, US liver, vitamin D, and zinc.
• See the Hepatobiliary and Musculoskeletal systems tables at the end of the book for related tests by body system.