C. Pregnancy – Explanation
Alkaline phosphatase is significantly elevated in pregnancy. This would also explain the borderline
anaemia
Alkaline phosphatase
Causes of raised alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
- liver: cholestasis, hepatitis, fatty liver, neoplasia
- Paget’s
- osteomalacia
- bone metastases
- hyperparathyroidism
- renal failure
- physiological: pregnancy, growing children, healing fractures
The table below splits the causes according to the calcium level
| Raised ALP and raised calcium | Raised ALP and low calcium |
| • Bone metastases • Hyperparathyroidism |
• Osteomalacia • Renal failure |
