Calprotectin of 140 please advice

[Dyas1990]

Hi there please help me....

I've been given a calprotectin level of 140 off my doctor and been told to re do the test in 2 weeks time. Please anyone help is this bad?

Thanks

[willow24 Administrator]

Hi, this result is in the grey area, below 100 is IBS, over 150 is indicative of IBD. Feacal calprotectin can be raised from use of non steroidal anti-inflammatorys (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, infection of bowel or stomache bug. The calprotectin test 'counts' the number of white cells shed from the bowel walls due to inflammation, repeating the test would rule out/confirm certain things such as a bug. If it remains in the grey area or higher your GP will likely refer you for a colonoscopy.

Have you had blood tests for inflammatory markers?

My recent calprotectin was 600, and thats after treatment for a flare up and things have settled down. During a flare my calprotectin has been well over 1200!

What other symptoms do you have?

[Dyas1990 in reply to willow24]

Hi thanks so much for the reply I've been having abdominal pain for about 18 months on and off and I've ad all bloods done and inflammotory markers always come back clear.

This is the first time anything as ever come back negative and I'm worrying my self mad it could be something serious.

My other syptoms are constipation or loose stools seems to be one or the other and abdo pain.

[willow24 Administrator in reply to Dyas1990]

It could be IBS, especially as bloods are normal. Constipation usually occurs after years of flare ups of crohns, this is because of scarring and thickening of bowel wall and strictures. Has GP tried you on buscapan (hyoscine) or colafac (mebeverine), these are anti spasmodics and help with the colic pain of IBS.

Crohns and ulcerative colitis are autoimmune disorders whereby the body rejects the bowel and maes antibodies causing the bowel to become inflammed and ulcerate. symptoms include diarrhoea (several times day and night) bleeding, mucus, pain, weightloss (from diarrhoea and inability to eat due to pain) and fatigue

[Dyas1990 in reply to willow24]

Thanks again willow really appreciate your advice and info. Can the levels be linked to prostrate at all do you know? Also can stress and worry be factors that could make the level rise?

[willow24 Administrator in reply to Dyas1990]

No, the levels are determined on the amount of white cells shed from bowel wall during inflammation. The test is specifically related to the bowels, however certain things can cause irritation and mild imflammation of the bowel but not be IBD

[Dyas1990 in reply to willow24]

Thanks angain willow i re do my test on wednesday so will juat afyer wait ans see what my levels are thanks again

[Dyas1990 in reply to Dyas1990]

Is it possible to have a positive reading then a negative one 2 weeks later?

[willow24 Administrator in reply to Dyas1990]

yes if he inflammation has gone or significantly reduced

[Dyas1990 in reply to willow24]

Willow just seen my report and level was actually 159 ??? Just done my other test today is 159 bad?

[willow24 Administrator in reply to Dyas1990]

159 is not bad, when do you get results back from 2nd test?

[Dyas1990 in reply to willow24]

Hi willow ad my second test it's come back as 119 im still having pain and loose stools and not feeling great at all.

[willow24 Administrator in reply to Dyas1990]

I think next sensible step would be to have a colonoscopy with biopsies. Although they are not as high as you would expect in IBD they are very slightly raised, things are not right and a diagnosis will mean you can be treated appropriately. Hopefully it will be a flare of IBS and not IBD. Being anxious and stressed will exacerbate IBS too x

[Dyas1990 in reply to willow24]

Hi willow ad a flexi scope on Friday as I went to hospital with passing muscus and abit of blood they did me a flexi scope to check the decending colon. They found little ulcers in the rectum and sigmoid but the scope man said they where tiny and could of been caused by the enema. As the muscos looked normal. I after go for a full scope as well now. U eared of that before? Cheers for all your help willow I really appreciate it.

[willow24 Administrator in reply to Dyas1990]

yeah enemas are quite caustic so can cause irritation and ulcers. its good that they are going to follow up with full colonoscopy