[Transitory hyperphosphatasemia in childhood]

Transient hyperphosphatasaemia was detected in 11 children hospitalized at the First and Second Paediatric Clinic of the Paediatric Faculty Hospital in Bratislava in 1985-1990. The authors analyzed retrospectively 6 children from this group where it was possible to evaluate accurately the trend of serum alkaline phosphatase. In all children the high alkaline phosphatase activity was detected incidentally during the initial examination. The reason for hospitalization were in four instances respiratory infections, in one instance coeliac disease and in one instance infectious mononucleosis with infection of the urinary pathways. The maximum increase of serum alkaline phosphatase was 5-15 fold higher than the upper borderline of the reference range for the given age group. The activity declined to normal spontaneously independently on the course of the basic disease and treatment, always in the course of 3-12 weeks. The isoenzyme pattern of alkaline phosphatase with a high ratio of the thermolabile isoenzyme was typical. Finally the authors emphasize that recognition of this obscure condition which does not endanger life can spare the children many unnecessary and expensive examinations.