[Severe increase in alkaline phosphatase levels during pregnancy]

In pregnancy the maternal serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) level increases twofold. If AP values rise above this level, diseases should be considered. We report a case of a 29 year-old pregnant woman with a ninefold increase in the serum AP level due to an increase in the placental level. In the last trimester she had a deep venous thrombosis and lung emboli, which is, however, not shown to correlate to a rise in the AP level. She delivered uncomplicated at term. The aim of this case report is to show the increase of the AP level in pregnancy, to show that there are different isozymes of AP, and to show the importance of investigating a serum AP level, which is increased more than twofold.