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Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy. A common benign scenario, a big concern for a pediatrician

Alfredo Eymann1, Nicolás Cacchiarelli, Guillermo Alonso

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina. alfredo.eymann@hospitalitaliano.org.ar

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|December 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy (BTH) is a condition causing high serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) in healthy children. This case series highlights BTH

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy (BTH) is a rare condition.
  • It is characterized by significantly elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) levels.
  • BTH typically affects healthy infants and young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report on four cases of BTH in healthy children.
  • To describe the clinical presentation and laboratory findings.
  • To emphasize the benign and transient nature of the condition.

Main Methods:

  • Case series of four healthy pediatric patients.
  • Analysis of clinical examinations, anthropometric measures, and laboratory results.
  • Monitoring of SAP levels and clinical course.

Main Results:

  • Four healthy children (3 female, 1 male, mean age 33 months) presented with markedly elevated SAP (ranging from 6500 to 11900 UI/L).
  • All patients had normal physical exams, anthropometric measurements, and other laboratory tests.
  • The clinical course was favorable, with no signs or symptoms of illness observed.

Conclusions:

  • BTH is a benign condition in infants and children.
  • Awareness of BTH characteristics is crucial for clinicians.
  • It helps avoid unnecessary diagnostic studies and ensures appropriate patient management.

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