How to treat elevated level of alkaline phosphatase in my 3-year-old son?

Question

Hi doctor,

My three year old son has a high alkaline phosphatase level, but his ALT, AST, and vitamin D are normal. Protein and globulin is low and four weeks ago, he complained of leg pain which led to blood work. In his last blood work, the WBC and lymphocytes were low too, but now it is going up this time. We also did a bilateral femur X-ray which was also normal.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that is found in many tissues throughout the body, including the liver, bones, and intestines. Elevated levels of ALP can indicate a number of conditions, including liver or bone disease, growth spurts in children, or even normal variation within the population. In your son's case, it is possible that the leg pain he experienced was related to a growth spurt, which could account for the elevated ALP level. ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) are enzymes that are primarily found in the liver, and elevated levels can indicate liver damage or disease. The fact that your son's ALT and AST levels are normal is a good sign that his liver function is not currently compromised. Vitamin D is important for bone health, and normal levels indicate that your son is getting enough through his diet and or exposure to sunlight. Protein and globulin are both components of the blood. A slightly low level of these values may not necessarily be concerning. Low white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte counts can be indicative of a number of conditions, including viral infections or autoimmune disorders. The fact that your son's counts are improving is a good sign that his body is recovering from any underlying condition.