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Has anyone during or post post intron had low alkaline phosphase?
I have had low alk phos since I started treatment and since side effects mimic hep c treatment
I have seen others with the same issue just wanted to know how common it is Thanks
I have seen others with the same issue just wanted to know how common it is Thanks
Found this at pub med I guess also low zink levels and hypothyroidism can cause this as well as other causes.
“Abstract
The causes for low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (reference range 30-115 U/L) in a large Veterans Medical Center were reviewed. Of 69,864 ALP determinations made over a 4-year period, 130 were low (< 30 U/L, 0.19%), representing 88 individual patients. Of these, 83 (primarily men, 96%) patients' charts were reviewed and classified into two groups, those with and those without conditions previously reported to be associated with decreased serum ALP activity: 47% had conditions associated with low ALP activity, the most frequent being cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (26.5%), malnutrition (12.0%), magnesium deficiency (4.8%), hypothyroidism (2.4%), and severe anemia (1.2%); 53% of patients did not have clinical conditions previously associated with low ALP activity. No case of clinically apparent hypophosphatasia, for which low ALP activity is the defining characteristic, was found in this population of veterans. A low serum ALP may be of significance in other patient populations such as children, where it is associated with achondroplasia and cretinism, or in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis taking estrogen replacement therapy. In the predominantly adult male population in this study, low ALP activity was rare; it was seen most frequently in cardiac surgery patients postoperatively, a clinical condition heretofore not commonly associated with low serum ALP activity.”
“Abstract
The causes for low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (reference range 30-115 U/L) in a large Veterans Medical Center were reviewed. Of 69,864 ALP determinations made over a 4-year period, 130 were low (< 30 U/L, 0.19%), representing 88 individual patients. Of these, 83 (primarily men, 96%) patients' charts were reviewed and classified into two groups, those with and those without conditions previously reported to be associated with decreased serum ALP activity: 47% had conditions associated with low ALP activity, the most frequent being cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (26.5%), malnutrition (12.0%), magnesium deficiency (4.8%), hypothyroidism (2.4%), and severe anemia (1.2%); 53% of patients did not have clinical conditions previously associated with low ALP activity. No case of clinically apparent hypophosphatasia, for which low ALP activity is the defining characteristic, was found in this population of veterans. A low serum ALP may be of significance in other patient populations such as children, where it is associated with achondroplasia and cretinism, or in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis taking estrogen replacement therapy. In the predominantly adult male population in this study, low ALP activity was rare; it was seen most frequently in cardiac surgery patients postoperatively, a clinical condition heretofore not commonly associated with low serum ALP activity.”
1 Comments
Thank you Lynn, very interesting!!
Reading Lynn's answer was very helpful. I did have a very high TSH after completing treatment which translates to low thyroid, the treatment (Interferon, Incivek, Riba) wacked out my thyroid more than it had been. I think it was blocking my medication. My TSH was 17 3 months after treating. Now it shouldn't be above a 4. I will keep looking.
Ok thanks. I also treated previously three times for 6 months each with interferon based treatment. First time was 3 shots a week of intron alpha monotherapy. Then interferon with ribavirin and again with interferon ribavirin and a trial drug. When the new DAA’s came out I treated with Sovaldi and Olysio for 12 weeks but relapsed so I treated again with Harvoni and ribavirin for 24 weeks and was finally cured.
I personally have no issue with low alk phos mine is right in mid normal range.
You have probably read this, but I did find about low alk phos
A decreased serum alkaline phosphatase may be due to:
Zinc deficiency.
Hypothyroidism.
Vitamin C deficiency/Scurvy.
Folic acid deficiency.
Excess Vitamin D intake.
Low phosphorus levels (hypophosphatasia)
Celiac disease.
Malnutrition with low protein assimilation (including low stomach acid production/hypochlorhydria).
Have you looked into these as possible causes?
I personally have no issue with low alk phos mine is right in mid normal range.
You have probably read this, but I did find about low alk phos
A decreased serum alkaline phosphatase may be due to:
Zinc deficiency.
Hypothyroidism.
Vitamin C deficiency/Scurvy.
Folic acid deficiency.
Excess Vitamin D intake.
Low phosphorus levels (hypophosphatasia)
Celiac disease.
Malnutrition with low protein assimilation (including low stomach acid production/hypochlorhydria).
Have you looked into these as possible causes?
5 Comments
Tried to seek help 3 Dr including my GI Dr they all said they did not know of problems with low alk phos. GI Dr just wanted to scope me
From what I read low ALP is rare and mostela associated with malnutrition and the scourge to sailors of old extremely low vitamin C levels aka scurvy.
How low is your ALP? Is it only slightly below normal range? That could be normal for you. Have you asked the doctor who ordered the test what they think about the significance if your results.
Are you eating normally and getting enough vitamin C?
How low is your ALP? Is it only slightly below normal range? That could be normal for you. Have you asked the doctor who ordered the test what they think about the significance if your results.
Are you eating normally and getting enough vitamin C?
My alp has been below normal for 30 years occasionaly it will hit the low mark I get plenty of vitamin C take suppliments as well. Dr's do not seem to care about it being low and have no answers I tried the nutritionist at the VA she said they don't run those test their expensive my GI Dr did not know what the problem would be just wanted to do a colonoscopy. My primary had no explanation either. Just do not know what kind of Dr to go to.
The low level is 25 most of the time I'm at 15-22 sometimes it gets to 25 a hand full of times it gets past 25 but never past 28 I'm not sure What kind of Dr I should try to go to thanks
Found this
“According to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the normal range for serum ALP level is 20–140 IU/L, but this can vary from laboratory to laboratory. The normal range runs higher in children and decreases with age. The best way to know what is normal or not is to discuss the results with your doctor, who will be able to interpret the lab’s specific result and reference ranges.”
What is the reference range for your lab?
Normally ALP is elevated in liver disease. I already listed the reasons for low levels which are primarily malnutrition and scurvy. Since you are probably not suffering from either these slightly below normal numbers may be normal for you which is probably why youroctor is not concerned.
Depending on your labs reference range they may be within normal range. Also check the units being used. Is it IU/L or something else. Does your lab slip state they are low?
“According to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the normal range for serum ALP level is 20–140 IU/L, but this can vary from laboratory to laboratory. The normal range runs higher in children and decreases with age. The best way to know what is normal or not is to discuss the results with your doctor, who will be able to interpret the lab’s specific result and reference ranges.”
What is the reference range for your lab?
Normally ALP is elevated in liver disease. I already listed the reasons for low levels which are primarily malnutrition and scurvy. Since you are probably not suffering from either these slightly below normal numbers may be normal for you which is probably why youroctor is not concerned.
Depending on your labs reference range they may be within normal range. Also check the units being used. Is it IU/L or something else. Does your lab slip state they are low?
Are you are taking interferon currently for Hep C treatment?
I haven’t heard of anyone taking interferon since the new generation DAA’s were approved about 4 years ago.
Or were you treated before these new meds were approved?
I haven’t heard of anyone taking interferon since the new generation DAA’s were approved about 4 years ago.
Or were you treated before these new meds were approved?
1 Comments
I treated from 1991 to 2000 with intron a went through 4- 6 months and relapsed stayed on maint therapy till late 2000 and had combo therapy with ribavirin and svr since like others I have had long term side effects bone and joint pain abdominal issues and others going back through my records because of a primary Dr change I found I have had low Alk Phos. Since I started treatment in 91 and have seen others reply theyhave also. Low alk phos has a lot of the same side effects as treatment had. My thoughts are if it's true that may be the cause of the long term sides we have had
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