Detection of Regan variant type of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme in liver tissue of Indian childhood cirrhosis.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzyme composition was studied in sera and liver from patients with Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC). A typical pattern consisting of a fast-moving anodal preliver band with slower moving diffuse liver and placental bands followed by an intestinal band was consistently observed in sera of patients in all stages of ICC and in pregnant mothers of index ICC patients. ICC liver ALP was relatively heat-stable and inhibited by L-phenylalanine and L-leucine. The isoenzyme also had similar immunological determinants to placental ALP and adult intestinal ALP isoenzymes. Total serum ALP isoenzyme and its heat-stable component progressively increased in concentration from early to advanced stages of the disease suggesting that the diseased liver in ICC is the source of the abnormal isoenzyme.