Elevated ALP

[Jiddy78]

ALP = alkaline phosphatase, which is an enzyme that is also produced by normal tissues. You can't conclude anything from this data point alone, so you cannot use it by itself as a diagnostic tool. Are other test results available in addition to this?

Thanks for the responses Margaret and Fed...Honestly, I don't know anything else...My lab (a chain) is off and on about sending me results...so I can't see the prior month to know if it is a trend or whatnot....I'll probably have to give my doctor a ring...but what's funny about it is he had his assistant give me a buzz a few days ago to tell me everything was A-OK...

My one-year mark from orchiectomy is in July...I haven't found anything that would imply that this could be related to TC...but this was such a good resource that I figured to give the board a try.

[Fed]

ALP = alkaline phosphatase, which is an enzyme that is also produced by normal tissues. You can't conclude anything from this data point alone, so you cannot use it by itself as a diagnostic tool. Are other test results available in addition to this?

[Margaret]

Jiddy,

I will try and help out for now and I am sure others with more information that I have, will chime in too.

Here is what I can tell you after researching it:

ALP usually points to your liver or bile ducts. When the bile ducts are blocked (usually by gallstones, scars from previous gallstones or surgery, or by cancers), ALP and bilirubin may be increased.

Sometimes doctors don’t know why ALP is high, and they need to order other tests to determine the exact cause. In such cases, your doctor may order another enzyme, GGT, that is made by the liver in the same places as is ALP.

Eating a meal can increase the ALP level slightly for a few hours in some people. It is usually better to do the test after fasting overnight. Some drugs may increase ALP levels, especially some of the drugs used to treat psychiatric problems, but this is rare.

I am not sure when you last ate or if you are on any drugs that could have elevated the ALP. And some medications do make the liver work harder than others.

I am not sure if this helps at all...but maybe it will get you started. Luckily you are on the low side of 'high' and all your other blood work came back fine.

Let us know.

Margaret

[Jiddy78]

135 vs. 126 high on the normal?

I just saw the results from the blood lab....Everything else was normal.

I haven't talked to the doctor, but his assistant called me to say everything was ok before I received the actual lab results in the mail...

Is this something to be concerned about? It's just slightly above the high of the normal range.