[Alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in the serum of patients with renal insufficiency].

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test the utility of serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes determination from patients with renal insufficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes were determined in a group of 58 patients: 22 of them suffering acute renal insufficiency (ARI) and 36 with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing regular hemodialysis, results obtained were compared from a population of 30 healthy adults. Intestinal, bone, liver, macromolecular and intestinal variant isoenzymes, were separated by electrophoresis on agarose gel and quantified using a densitometer. RESULTS Were found a significant increase the total alkaline phosphatase activity in both pathologic groups (p < 0.05 in ARI and p < 0.01 in CRF). Isoenzymatic profiles showed: increase of the bone fraction (p < 0.05 in ARI and p < 0.001 in CRF), decrease of the liver isoenzyme (p < 0.001) in both groups, macromolecular fraction elevated in acute patients (p < 0.05) and a significant increase of the intestinal and intestinal variant isoenzyme in the chronic patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The renal insufficiency modified the normal distribution of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes and the study of their serum levels could be an effective non-invasive marker, for the evaluation of bone disease and intestinal disorders associated with renal failure.