Properties of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in plasma of preterm and term neonates.

The isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) in plasma of 37 preterm and 21 term neonates two weeks postpartum have been studied with regard to electrophoretic mobility, sialic acid content, inhibition properties, heat lability, molecular mass, and binding to lectins. Term infants generally had a single form of alkaline phosphatase present in significant amounts, identified by the above criteria as originating in bone. All the preterm neonates had two alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in plasma, namely, bone- and fetal-type intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Liver-, placental-, and adult-type intestinal alkaline phosphatase were not detected in any of the plasma samples.