[Alkaline phosphatase as a prognostic factor in Hodgkin's disease]

Serum alkaline phosphatase level have been studied in 102 patients a the onset of Hodgkin's disease who were staged by laparotomy. Elevated phosphatase was observed in 34 cases who had a worse relapse free survival (RFS): 63 months versus 93 months in patients with normal level (p less than 0.001). Also, overall survival was affected by elevated phosphatase, because patients with this finding had a 10-year survival of 42 percent compared with 70 percent of patients with normal level. We felt that patients with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase should be considered in advanced stage, even other studies remain normal and therapeutic options would considered the use of chemotherapy.