What Can A 140 Alkaline Phosphatase Mean?

Posted on Fri, 27 Sep 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 Answered on

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : What can a 140 alkaline phosphatase mean?

Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Kindly attach the investigation report

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

Thanks for your query.

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme produced mainly in the liver & bone tissue.
Normal Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in adults are approximately 20 to 140 IU/L.
(there can be slight variation in the range depending on the laboratory & the methods used for determination)

Increase in levels of ALP is seen in:
1. Liver pathology
2. Bile duct obstruction
3. Active bone formation associated with any pathology of bone
4. Coeliac Disease (untreated)

In your post you have only mentioned about the ALP value (which falls in higher normal range).
But you have not mentioned the reason for which the test was conducted.
If possible, kindly attach the investigation report with a brief clinical history.

Because, a diagnosis is not made only on the basis of investigation reports only.
In the absence of any clinical symptom, the values are considered non-significant.

Wishing you a good health.
Please let me know if I need to clarify further.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad