Acid phosphatase in serum

Reference values ​​of acid phosphatase activity in blood serum - 0-6.5 IU / l.

Acid phosphatase is found in almost all organs and tissues of a person, in the largest quantities - in cells of the blood, prostate, liver, kidneys, bones. Enzyme is also found in human milk. The activity of acid phosphatase in the prostate gland is 100 times higher than in other tissues. In men, half the serum acidic phosphatase produced by the prostate gland, the rest - the liver and collapsing platelets and erythrocytes. In women, the enzyme produces liver, erythrocytes and platelets. Acid phosphatase is not a homogeneous enzyme. Most tissues contain two or more isoenzymes, which differ in their properties.

The determination of acid phosphatase activity in clinical practice is usually performed for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The activity of acid phosphatase is increased in prostate cancer not always: only in 20-25% of patients without metastases and in 60% of patients with metastases [Vihko P. et al., 1985].The degree of increase in acid phosphatase activity is especially high in patients with bone metastases.

The determination of acid phosphatase activity can be used for the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer metastases in bone and bone diseases, in particular osteodystrophies, where alkaline phosphatase activity is usually increased, while in prostate cancer metastases, the activity increases both alkaline,and acidic phosphatases.

It should be borne in mind that prostate massage, catheterization, cystoscopy, rectal studies increase the activity of acidic phosphatase, so the blood should be withdrawn at least 48 hours after the listed procedures.

Increased activity of acid phosphatase may occur with increased destruction of platelets( trobocytopenia, thromboembolism, etc.), hemolytic disease, progressive Paget's disease, metastatic bone lesions, myeloma( not always), Gaucher's disease and Niman-Pick disease, 1-2day after surgery on the prostate gland or after her biopsy.