Acid phosphatase in the blood: definition, decoding and norm

Acid phosphatase is an enzyme that accelerates the breakdown of molecules in the body. Determining its level in the blood is important for diagnosing the state of health. There are several types of acid phosphatases, which have a common functional identity, but differ significantly from one another in relation to the tissues of the body, chromosomal origin, composition.

Total information

The enzyme works in acidic environments, where the name came from. Acid phosphatase is found in various tissues and cells, can be located in and outside lysosomes. The greatest number is determined in the prostate gland, as well as in the cells of the following organs:

• Liver;
• Spleen;
• Bone marrow;
• Cells of blood (erythrocytes, platelets, macrophages).

In a healthy body, the activity of acid phosphatase is low enough. In the male, its level is half of the prostatic phosphatase and the one that is in the liver and broken blood cells. In the female body, enzymes are completely formed by the liver and destroyed erythrocytes, platelets.

Lysosomal acid phosphatase

It is found in most cells of the body. Its deficiency is manifested by an autosomal recessive disease, which is considered the result of the pathology of metabolic processes. The symptomatology of the disease manifests itself as follows:

• Periodic nausea and vomiting;
• Weakness, decreased efficiency;
• Lowering blood pressure;
• In childhood - opisthotonus (convulsive seizures, which are manifested by arched back arched, patients rest on the surface of the bed only with the back of the head and feet);
• Bleeding.

If the enzyme level is insufficient only in leukocytes, patients often suffer from exacerbations of chronic infections.

Prostatic acid phosphatase

It is considered a marker of oncological processes of the prostate gland. This kind of enzyme is also determined as a marker of seminal fluid in legal proceedings (cases of rape). Acid phosphatase is increased and several days after surgery on the prostate gland or biopsy.

The optimum acidity index for the proper functioning of the enzyme is 4.6. Activity manifests itself only after the man reaches puberty.

Currently, the determination of the level of prostatic phosphatase as a marker of cancer recedes into the background because of the increased interest in the prostate-specific antigen, which is able to confirm the presence of the disease at earlier stages of development. Nevertheless, the parameters of prostatic acid phosphatase are important in predicting the recurrence of the oncological process after surgical intervention for radical removal of the prostate.

The analysis allows to determine the effectiveness of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and other prostatic pathologies.

Erythrocyte phosphatase

It is a polymorphic enzyme that is found not only in erythrocytes, but also in other cells of the body. The optimal pH level for its functioning ranges from 5.2 to 6.2.

Acid phosphatase can be determined to clarify paternity. Certain forms of the enzyme are associated with the following states:

• Hereditary predisposition to hemolytic anemia;
• Pathology, which is characterized by the development of hemolytic anemia against the background of eating legumes;
• Anemia with the use of certain drugs or the development of infections of viral and bacterial origin.

There are forms of erythrocytic acid phosphatase, directly associated with disorders that occur in childhood.

Macrophage type of acid phosphatase

The enzyme is important in the diagnosis of Gaucher's disease. This is a hereditary disease that manifests itself in the accumulation in the tissues of the liver, spleen, kidneys, brain, lung glucocerebroside (organic matter from the group of fats). The disease is accompanied by a significant increase in the size of the above organs, a sharp decrease in the number of all blood cells, seizures, spastic seizures, mental retardation.

Macrophage acidic phosphatase is also considered a specific marker of hairy cell leukemia. This disease is accompanied by the production of a significant amount of enzyme, determined in the blood.

Phosphatase of osteoclasts

Osteoclasts call bone cells responsible for its destruction. This stage is an important point in the growth and remodeling of the bone apparatus. High rate of bone destruction is accompanied by the following diseases:

• Paget's disease (pathology of normal bone tissue synthesis and the formation of its elements);
• Hypercalcemia of malignant nature;
• Hyperfunction of the thyroid and parathyroid glands ;
• Postmenopause in combination with osteoporosis.

The result is frequent fractures and progressive thinning of bone structures. Determination of acidic phosphatase of osteoclasts shows an increased level of enzymes against the background of the above pathologies.

Preparation and implementation of diagnostics

Quantitative indicators are determined in the laboratory. The analysis should be conducted after 2 days from the date of the other diagnostic manipulations. If it is necessary to assess the level of prostatic acid phosphatase, this should occur no earlier than 48 hours after the biopsy, palpation of the prostate, catheterization of the bladder. In the opposite case, the results can be false positive.

The sampling of the material for examination is performed on an empty stomach. You can drink only water, drinking tea, coffee, juices and other drinks is prohibited. For a day you need to give up alcohol, fatty, smoked dishes, 1 hour before the analysis - from smoking. The last half an hour before sampling the material should be carried out in complete emotional calm.

For diagnosis, venous blood is used, namely, its serum, avoiding haemolysis. The results of the examination are known already the day after the study.

Method used

To clarify the level of total acid phosphatase, an immunochemical method with chemiluminescent detection is used. Special substrates are used that interact with certain enzymes. At present, the systems use luminol derivatives with peroxidase in combination with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. Here, the action of the initiator (for example, n-iodophenol) is added, which can increase the luminescence of solutions up to several thousand times.

There are other systems that use alkaline phosphatase and AMPPD substrate, making the diagnostic method even more sensitive. The advantages of the method of investigation are the stability of the reagents used, the absence of radiological risk. The disadvantages of the method are based on the complexity of the diagnostic process.

Norm

The total acid phosphatase in the analyzes is designated ED / L. Its permissible values vary with age and gender.

Normal parameters of prostatic acid phosphatase - less than 2.1 ng / ml. All the figures above indicate a positive result of the diagnosis.

When is the enzyme level elevated?

The most serious conditions, in which the quantitative indicators are higher than the norm:

• Thrombocytopenia - a reduced number of blood cells responsible for its coagulation;
• Thromboembolism - blockage of the lumen of the main arteries with a blood clot that detached from the vessel wall, or an embolus caught in the bloodstream;
• Hemolytic disease - a disease accompanied by massive destruction of erythrocytes with the release of a significant amount of bilirubin into the bloodstream;
• Progressive disease Paget - pathology of the bone apparatus, in which there is a disturbance of the balance between the formation of bone elements and their destruction in favor of the latter;
• Myeloma is a cancerous process of a malignant nature, in which B-lymphocytes are involved, responsible for the synthesis of protective cells;
• Niman-Pick's disease is a hereditary pathology characterized by impaired fat metabolism and accumulation of lipids in large organs (liver, spleen, lungs, heart, kidneys);
• A few days after the intervention on the prostate gland and the biopsy of her tissue.

Acid, alkaline phosphatase - a group of enzymes responsible for important processes in the body. It is with their help that vital successive reactions occur. The determination of the level of enzymes makes it possible in time to clarify the presence of pathology and to carry out its correction to support the further high quality of life of the patient.