Toggle Nav
Search
My Cart 0
Frequently Asked Questions
Menu

Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes

Loading...
main product photo
SKU
Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes
$59.00
Add to Wish List

First time customer? Read How Discounted Labs Works 

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT DISCOUNTED LABS SERVICES: We currently serve the following states:

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

Other states will be added in the coming months, so please subscribe to our newsletter on the website footer to be notified.

Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) The isoenzymes test, a diagnostic tool, measures the various forms of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme that are present in the blood. The body has the enzyme ALP in a variety of tissues, with the liver, bones, kidneys, and intestines having the largest quantities. Isoleucines are the slightly different forms of ALP that various tissues produce.

The ALP isoenzyme test helps determine which body tissues are contributing to elevated ALP levels when total ALP is high.

What are the different types of ALP isoenzymes?

There are several types of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzymes:

  1. Liver ALP: Produced by liver cells and associated with the biliary epithelium. It is elevated in cholestatic liver diseases and various hepatic pathologies.
  2. Bone ALP: Found in bone tissue and elevated in conditions involving increased osteoblastic activity, such as Paget's disease, rickets, osteomalacia, and bone cancer.
  3. Intestinal ALP: Produced in the intestine.
  4. Placental ALP: Found during pregnancy and produced by the placenta.
  5. Germ cell ALP: Associated with certain cancers.
  6. Regan isoenzyme: A variant sometimes found in cancer patients.
  7. Nagao isoenzyme: Another variant associated with certain cancers.
  8. Renal ALP: Produced in the kidneys.

How do the different ALP isoenzymes affect diagnosis?

The different alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzymes can provide valuable diagnostic information by helping pinpoint the source of elevated ALP levels in the body. Here's how the major ALP isoenzymes affect diagnosis:

  1. Liver ALP:
  • Elevated liver ALP is indicative of liver or biliary tract disorders.
  • It can signal conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, biliary obstruction, liver cancer, or metastatic liver disease.
  • Liver ALP often increases early in liver disease, before other liver function tests show abnormalities.
  1. Bone ALP:
  • Elevated bone ALP suggests increased osteoblastic activity.
  • It can indicate conditions like Paget's disease, osteomalacia, bone cancer, hyperparathyroidism, or vitamin D deficiency.
  • Decreased bone ALP in children may suggest cretinism or hypophosphatasia.
  1. Intestinal ALP:
  • Elevated intestinal ALP may indicate intestinal diseases or damage.
  • It can be associated with conditions like bowel perforation, ulcerative intestinal disease, or acute intestinal infarction.
  • It's normally elevated in people with blood types B or O, especially after fatty meals.
  1. Placental ALP:
  • Elevated during pregnancy and used as a marker for placental health.
  • Can also be a biomarker for certain cancers, like pancreatic cancer.
  1. Germ cell ALP:
  • Associated with certain cancers, particularly testicular cancer.

By analyzing the specific isoenzyme patterns, clinicians can more accurately determine the source of elevated ALP and narrow down potential diagnoses. For example:

  • If liver ALP is predominantly elevated, it suggests liver or biliary tract issues.
  • If bone ALP is mainly elevated, it points to bone disorders or increased bone turnover.
  • If intestinal ALP is elevated, it may indicate intestinal damage or disease.

This isoenzyme analysis is particularly useful when total ALP is elevated but the cause is unclear. It helps differentiate between liver, bone, and other sources of ALP elevation, guiding further diagnostic steps and avoiding unnecessary investigations

 

 
 
How Does It Work

HOW DOES DISCOUNTEDLABS.COM WORK?

  1. Go to the "Find a Location" page to find the closest lab location. No need to make an appointment since walk-ins are welcomed. Once you have identified your closest location, go to step 2.

  2. Go to "Choose a Test" and add your selection (s) in the shopping cart. If you prefer to save money on bundled tests, we have created "Lab Test Panels" that can help you decide what to order.

  3. If you have a discount coupon code, add it to your cart.

  4. A $8 lab processing fee will be added to your total.

  5. Pay using a credit card.

  6. You will receive an order confirmation and instructions email on how to download your lab request.

  7. Print lab request form that you downloaded.

  8. Take that form to the closest location. Get your blood drawn.

  9. You will receive an email when the results are ready for you to download.

    Note: You cannot place an order under someone else's profile. The profile person's name will appear on the lab order form.

     

    If you have further questions, please email [email protected].