normal alkaline phosphatase levels in third trimester

normal alkaline phosphatase levels in third trimester

The normal serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase in adults over the age of 18 ranges from 37 to 116 international units per liter (IU/L), while it’s different in pregnant women, and levels up to twice that upper limit can still be normal (3).

The typical range of ALP in different trimesters of pregnancy is:

· First Trimester                             17–88     U/L

· Second Trimester                         25–126   U/L

· Third Trimester                            38–229   U/L (4)

Therefore, the normal alkaline phosphatase levels in the third trimester are 38 to 299 U/L.

alkaline phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in many parts of your body, mainly in the liver, bones, kidneys, and digestive system. If you have symptoms of liver disease or a bone disorder, your doctor may order an alkaline phosphatase test to measure the amount of the enzyme in your blood and help in diagnosing the problem (1,2).

Since many conditions can affect ALP levels, the test is done with other blood tests, such as a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) or liver function tests that check how well your liver is working (1,2).

What do the results mean?

High ALP levels may be a sign of a liver problem or a bone disorder. Your doctor may have you take another test, called an ALP isoenzyme test, to determine whether the alkaline phosphatase in your blood is coming from your liver or your bones (2).

An abnormally elevated and rising ALP during pregnancy may also be a potential marker for placental dysfunction, HELLP syndrome, intrahepatic cholestasis, and malignancy. In these cases, more frequent monitoring may be indicated (5).

Low levels of ALP are less common and may be a sign of a deficiency in zinc and magnesium, malnutrition, pernicious anemia, thyroid disease, Wilson disease, or hypophosphatasia, a rare genetic disease that affects bones and teeth (1).

* You can enter your lab test results online and get a personalized interpretation, including your condition in each test, definition, reasons for increased or decreased results, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, potential treatments, drug interactions, etc.

References:

1. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/alkaline-phosphatase/#:~:text=An%20alkaline%20phosphatase%20(ALP)%20test,%2C%20kidneys%2C%20and%20digestive%20system.
2. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/alkaline_phosphatase_test
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214911220300448?via%3Dihub

(Extreme elevations of alkaline phosphatase in pregnancy: A case report)

4. https://www.perinatology.com/Reference/Reference%20Ranges/Alkaline%20phosphatase.htm

5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18304940/