Resolution of Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase After Joint Replacement in Severe Osteoarthritis

The study presents a rare case of a 60-year-old female with severe osteoarthritis (OA) and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, which normalized after joint replacement surgeries. The patient's ALP level dropped from 165 U/L to 135 U/L within 9 weeks of the first knee arthroplasty, and after a second knee arthroplasty, the ALP level further dropped to a normal level of 114 U/L within a week. The study suggests that severe OA, characterized by inflammation-mediated cartilage destruction and other bone changes, may be associated with increased ALP levels. However, more research is needed to evaluate the utility of serum ALP as a biomarker for severe OA.