Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 16: A new Israeli study has found that lower levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme involved in several physiological functions including bacterial toxin detoxification, may be associated with a higher risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with sepsis.

Researchers retrospectively analysed data from 710 paediatric patients (aged 0–18 years) hospitalised with sepsis across four Israeli government hospitals between January 2000 and June 2024. The data were obtained from the Kineret computerised database, with ALP levels adjusted for age and sex.

The study found that 23 per cent of the children developed AKI. Those who developed kidney injury had significantly lower ALP levels than those who did not. They were also generally older, more likely to have low albumin levels (hypoalbuminaemia) and reduced white blood cell counts (leukopenia).

Children with AKI had a longer median hospital stay of seven days, compared with four days for those without kidney injury.

The researchers noted that while previous studies in adults have suggested that ALP may protect against kidney damage during severe sepsis, similar evidence in children has been lacking. Their findings indicate that reduced ALP levels could serve as a potential marker of disease severity and the risk of acute kidney injury in paediatric sepsis.

The study concludes that further research is needed to determine whether ALP could be used as a prognostic biomarker or as a therapeutic target in children with sepsis.