Serum Aldolase

The plasma concentration of this enzyme is related to muscle activity.

Indications:

Aid in the diagnosis of a constitutional muscle disease (myopathy) or acquired (myositis).

Structure Aldolase
Structure Aldolase

Sample:

Ask the patient about the possible taking steroids that increase aldolases (¥ 3).
Take in the fasted state and at rest for at least 30 minutes to avoid increases related to muscle activity (it doubles the plasma concentration).
Capillary or venous blood sample collected clotted or anticoagulant. The red blood cells are rich in aldolases, the slightest false hemolysis assay especially when anemia is regenerative.

Typical values:

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• Adults:
0.5 to 5 IU / L
• In children:
– Before 3 years:
From 10 to 25 IU / L
– Between 3 and 10 years:
3 to 15 IU / L
The values ​​in children are much higher than those of adults.
They decrease slowly in adolescence to reach adult values ​​around 18 years.

Interpretation:

Myopathies:

Serum aldolase are particularly high in Duchenne muscular dystrophy Boulogne (more than ten times normal), but this elevation is not required for diagnosis. Rising aldolases is less marked in disease Landouzy-Dejerine or facial-scapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (see Creatine kinase [CK]).

Myositis:

During inflammatory muscle diseases dysimmune involvement of striated muscle, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myopathy, aldolases are significantly increased and their dosage can follow the response to treatment.
These disorders are manifested by a motor deficit painful belts, with furthermore, in case of dermatomyositis, erythema, periorbital bezel, a painful erythema and squamous the crimp nails.
The aldolasique activity of serum increases in diverse conditions such as myocardial infarction, acute viral hepatitis, but the dosage is not used in these pathologies.

Note: In muscle diseases, the elevation of the aldolase is parallel to that of creatine kinase (CK), the dose is more current.