Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2007 Sep;10(2):173-178.

Clinical Features and Natural Course of Benign Transient Hyperphosphatasemia in Children

• Oh DS
• Han JJ
• Yang HR
• Chang JY
• Ko JS
• Choi JY
• Seo JK

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the clinical manifestation and natural course of benign transient hyperphosphatasemia (BTH) in children.
METHODS
A total of 17 children diagnosed with BTH between June 2006 and July 2007, were included in this study. Clinical records and laboratory tests were analyzed retrospectively for all children.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 26.9+/-13.8 months (range: 9 to 49 months). Nine of the 17 BTH cases (52.9%) occurred in patients that had previously suffered from infectious diseases. While the patients were suffering from BTH, the mean serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was 2,500.2+/-1,165.1 U/L, however, these elevated serum ALP levels normalized within 7 weeks of recovery in all cases. In addition, a seasonal peak in the onset of BTH was observed from September to December. Further, the measurement of ALP isoenzymes in 7 of the patients with BTH, revealed a marked elevation of bone fraction.
CONCLUSION
It is important for pediatricians to understand the clinical manifestation and benign course of BTH to avoid unnecessary diagnostic evaluation in children showing a transient increase in ALP activities.

Keyword

Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia; Alkaline phosphatase (ALP); Children

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase
Child*
Communicable Diseases
Humans
Isoenzymes
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Alkaline Phosphatase
Isoenzymes