What to do if the alkaline phosphate is too high, especially for pregnant women. According to experts, in general, a high level of alkaline phosphatase in pregnant women is a normal phenomenon, especially at nine months of pregnancy when the alkaline phosphatase in the pregnant woman's body is two to three times higher than the standard state. Of course, there are also some cases caused by pathological factors. What factors can cause pregnant women to have high levels of alkaline phosphatase? What should be done if alkaline phosphatase is high?
Reasons for high alkaline phosphatase levels in pregnant women
1. Physiological factors
Due to the high activity of alkaline phosphatase in the lower bone tissue of pregnant women, the detection value may be higher.
2. Hepatobiliary diseases
Due to the high concentration of alkaline phosphatase in liver cells, if there are problems with the liver and gallbladder, it can lead to elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase. When the human body suffers from obstructive jaundice, primary liver cancer, secondary liver cancer, cholestatic hepatitis, etc., liver cells excessively produce alkaline phosphatase, which enters the bloodstream through the lymphatic tract and hepatic sinusoids. At the same time, due to bile excretion disorders, it refluxes into the bloodstream, causing a high level of alkaline phosphatase in the serum.
3. Skeletal disorders
Alkaline phosphatase is highly active in bone tissue, so patients with bone diseases may also experience elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase. For example, fracture healing period, rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, bone malignancy, etc.
4. Other less common diseases
Such diseases include kidney disease, severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, leukemia, etc.
5. Caused by certain drugs
When clinical patients are treated with antibiotics (erythromycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, ampicillin, etc.) and barbiturates, it can lead to elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. High alkaline phosphatase levels caused by drugs like this generally do not require special treatment and can be restored to normal after discontinuation.
6. Dietary factors
Pregnant women who consume high-fat foods can also lead to elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase.
What should pregnant women do if their alkaline phosphatase is high
If the high alkaline phosphatase is only caused by physiological factors, it does not require treatment and is a normal phenomenon. If it is caused by medication or diet, it only needs to be stopped or dietary habits improved. However, it cannot be ruled out that the high alkaline phosphatase level in pregnant women is caused by pathological factors, such as bone diseases, liver and gallbladder diseases, and hyperparathyroidism.
The indicators of alkaline phosphatase have important diagnostic significance for the degree of liver lesions and damage. There are many reasons that can cause high alkaline phosphatase levels. Pregnant women with high alkaline phosphatase levels may be normal, or it may be a problem with the liver. If pregnant women with hepatitis B have high alkaline phosphatase, it needs attention.
Experts remind that pregnant women with high levels of alkaline phosphatase should go to the hospital for examination to see if there are any liver problems. If there is no problem with the liver, after the baby is born, the situation of high alkaline phosphatase will return to normal. Otherwise, you should go to the regular special hospital for liver disease in time for examination. If it is caused by the recurrence of hepatitis B, you need to receive treatment in time.
Therefore, although high alkaline phosphatase levels in pregnant women may be a normal phenomenon, there is also a possibility of pathological factors. Therefore, for safety reasons, expectant mothers with high alkaline phosphatase levels should still go to the hospital for examination to rule out the influence of pathological factors.
