Evaluation of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Heat Stable- ALP (HS-ALP) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Background: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is defined as a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually both progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles and gases. Tobacco smoke remains the main etiological agent. COPD inflammation initiated by tobacco smoke remains exuberant long after smoking cessation. Functional impairment of lung organ is reflected by impairment in FEV1% predicted. This is the result of underlying remodeling and fibrosis in small airways. Type 2 alveolar cells are involved in this process of remodeling and repair. Many of the studies have showed that heat stable alkaline phosphatase (HS-ALP) is released from these type 2 alveolar cells. Objectives: To correlate serum activity of ALP, HS-ALP, FEV1% predicted and BMI in various stages of COPD patients. Method: This study tried to evaluate correlation between serum activity of ALP, HS-ALP and FEV1% predicted and BMI in various stages of COPD. Total 45 patients of stage 2, 3, 4 of COPD were studied. Result: We found there is unanimous increase in total ALP activity in all the stages of COPD. HSALP is increased in all the stages of COPD with no difference in between the stages. There is no relation between ALP and HS-ALP and between FEV1% predicted and BMI. We find that HS-ALP once considered as carcino-embryonic antigen is increased in lung inflammation of COPD. Conclusion: Serum ALP and HS-ALP which can be very easily measured could be the one of the laboratory marker for diagnostic and prognostication of COPD patients.