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What Causes Decreased Alkaline Phosphatase Levels?
Question: Hello, just got my blood work back and everything is normal except two things. My alkaline phosphatase is low a 37L (just below the 40L normal range) and my absolute monocytes are high at 972H. What do these mean? Are they related?
When I picked up my results the doctor had left for the weekend and I really am freaking out a little and don't want to wait till Monday to have this explained to me. Please help.
Like I said, all other readings are in range according to the document.
Brief Answer:
Not related to each other.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
You have mildly decreased alkaline phosphatase levels.
If rest of your blood tests are normal, it is not clinically significant and does not indicate any major health problem.
It could be due to minor Vitamin D3 deficiency or just a physiological variation.
An increased percentage of monocytes may indicate Chronic inflammatory disease Parasitic infection Tuberculosis Viral infection (for example, infectious mononucleosis, mumps, measles) etc. The cause needs to be detected in case there are any symptoms. It is not related to lower ALP levels.
You need to have a repeat test along with other liver function tests after three months to see if there is any further decrease in these levels.
Right now there is nothing to feel concerned. Periodic monitoring is required.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the answer, Doc. Quick follow up, what do you mean by "an increased percentage of monocytes may indicate Chronic inflammatory disease Parasitic infection Tuberculosis Viral infection (for example, infectious mononucleosis, mumps, measles) etc."?
Wouldn't I have symptoms of any of these diseases? Or not necessarily? A few days before the test, I was horsing around with some friends and bruised up my neck and arms. Could that have been the inflammation that caused the high count?
Also, I just noticed on my blood work report that it next to "Occult Blood" it said "Trace" under Out of Range. What does that mean?
Brief Answer:
Not due to the bruise.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The mild rise of monocytes may be due to a mild viral infection or a parasitic infestation which may be asymptomatic. In case any symptoms appear or the rise is persistent then other blood tests are needed to find out the cause.
The bruise on neck and arms cannot cause a rise in these levels.
Trace amount of occult blood can be due to gastric ulcers esophageal reflux or intestinal parasites.
Hope my answer is helpful.
If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Last question, doctor:
A few weeks ago I went to the ER with mild right testicle paint, but after an ultrasound and an exam nothing was found in that area. There was a trace amount of mircoscopic blood in the urine. The doctor suggested a urinary tract infection.
Is it possible the trace blood in the urine and the elevated monocyte count are related? Could I be fighting an infection even though I am no longer in any pain and have no other symptoms? What are the possibilities?
Brief Answer:
Not likely to be related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
A bacterial infection like a urinary tract infection is less likely to cause a rise in monocytes count. It is more commonly seen with parasitic infestations.
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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