Marked alkaline phosphatase elevation with partial common bile duct obstruction due to calcific pancreatitis

Abstract

This study characterizes a syndrome of partial common bile duct obstruction and marked elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase in 6 male alcoholic patients with calcific pancreatitis. In each patient, a marked elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase was associated with minimal, if any, elevation in serum bilirubin. In all cases, the alkaline phosphatase was hepatic in origin, and intravenous or operative cholangiography showed a dilated common bile duct. Liver biopsy showed canalicular bile stasis in 4 patients and bile duct proliferation in 2 patients. This study demonstrates that calcific pancreatitis may cause partial bile duct obstruction which differentially increases serum alkaline phosphatase without altering bilirubin or bromsulphthalein excretion.