Benign familial hyperphosphatasemia
Article Abstract:
A routine blood chemistry examination often includes a test to assay the level of a group of enzymes which are involved in the splitting of a phosphate group from a larger molecule. The enzyme alkaline phosphatase is responsible for catalyzing this reaction and high levels of the enzyme are indicative of underlying bone or liver disease or neoplasm (tumor). However, elevated levels can also indicate pregnancy of other benign conditions. Several cases of benign familial hyperphosphatasemia, abnormally elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, have been reported in the absence of any underlying disease process. The current report documents the genealogy of another family with this condition and suggests a genetic mechanism that involves a complex regulation of two different alkaline phosphatase genes. The first member of this family to be identified was an 18-year-old college student treated by his college health service for "flu". His blood level for the enzyme was extremely high, but all other findings were normal. The investigators used monoclonal antibodies, highly specific and purified strains of antibodies produced in a laboratory, directed against three different kinds of alkaline phosphatase to classify the condition within this family group. This family study demonstrates the complexity of alkaline phosphatase enzyme systems, including biosynthesis and family genetic properties. Physicians should be alerted to the fact some individuals with elevation of this enzyme complex have a benign process as a consequence of a familial trait which is not associated with adverse health affects.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1989
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Prostate-specific antigen values at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis in African-American men
Article Abstract:
African-American men appear to have higher serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values at the time of their first prostate cancer diagnosis than do white men. PSA is a blood test used to screen for and to monitor prostate cancer. Researchers studied 408 white and 133 black men who had a pretreatment PSA blood test and were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The black men had significantly higher PSA levels even after adjustments for age, tumor stage and grade. Black men were 2.2 times more apt to have a PSA level higher than 10 ng/ML, and their tumor volumes were 1.3 to 2.5 times higher than those of white men. The study was conducted at a U.S. military hospital, where black men have equal access to health care as white men. The higher PSA values for black men appear to reflect the higher tumor volumes among the black patients at the time of the original diagnosis.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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