Transient hyperphosphatasemia in an infant with bronchiolitis and pneumonia

• Published in: European journal of medical research Vol. 13; no. 11; p. 536
• Main Authors: Dodig, Slavica, Demirovic, J, Jelcic, Z, Richter, D, Cepelak, I, Zrinski Topic, R, Petrinovic, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 24.11.2008
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Bronchiolitis - complications; Female; Humans; Hyperphosphatemia - diagnosis; Hyperphosphatemia - etiology; Infant; Isoenzymes - blood; Pneumonia - complications
• ISSN: 0949-2321

We present a case of benign transient hyperphosphatasemia in a 4-month-old infant with acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia. During hospitalization the infant had an increased catalytic activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP): day 2, 5074 U/L; day 3, 5622-U/L; and day 8, 3129 U/L. The x-ray, leukocytosis, and C-reactive protein findings pointed to bacterial etiology of the respiratory disorder. Electrophoretic separation revealed an atypical isoenzyme profile: fast anodal, near-cathodal and bone fractions. ALP levels normalized within 54 days, and control electrophoresis indicated normal liver, placental/placental-like, intestinal and bone isoenzymes. The appearance of atypical fast anodal and near-cathodal fractions of ALP in this infant during the course of acute lower respiratory tract infection and rapid return to the reference intervals pointed to benign transient hyperphosphatasemia.