Alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with bronchopulmonary disease
Sánchez Navarro, M.R.; Fernández-Conde, M.E.; Oliver Almendros, C.; Hurtado Suazo, J.A.; Samaniego Muñoz, M.
Anales de Medicina Interna 17(4): 182-185
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-7199 PMID: 10893768 Document Number: 517502
In this study, we are looking at the principal isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as injury markers of cellular membranes from bronchial epithelium, in 80 patients diagnosed with bronchopulmonary pathology from different ethology, using serum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL). Patients were grouped according to age as following: 26 preterm neonates suffering respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation; 32 children ranging from 2 to 12 years old, and 22 adults (30-65 years old) examined by bronchoscopy for the purpose of diagnosis. Results obtained from all pathological groups were compared with a control group showing similar characteristics. Isoenzymes were separated by electrophoresis on agarose gel and were quantified by desitometry. Total protein was measured in BAL; ALP activity was expressed in UI/mg x 10-3 of protein. We found that macromolecular ALP fraction was significantly increased in the serum of neonates with distress (p < 0.01), in the patients 2-12 years and adults affected by pulmonary pathology (p < 0.001). The electrophoresis of ALP isoenzymes showed a unique isoenzymatic band corresponding with its macromolecular fraction in the BAL fluid. We conclude that increased macromolecular fraction of alkaline phosphatase found in the serum of patients diagnosed with respiratory problems could have its origin in damaged pulmonary tissue.