Very high calprotectin levels

[Unforgiven213]

Hello. For the past month i've been suffering of blood in stool, bloating, 1-2 stools/day that aren't consistent. My celiac disease antibodies came back negative, CEA antigen 4.96 with a normal value of <3 but my calprotectin was at 6800 µg/g. Does this mean IBD or is it something more serious from your experience? I'm stunned by the very high number of it. I am 20 years old and also suffer of hypothyroidism.

[Viklou]

Wow that's really high.

[Hobbits]

A high calprotectin result indicates high levels of inflammation and with your other symptoms sounds like IBD.

With a test that high they will likely retest.

If you are sick, flu, cold or anything like that it will also cause higher than normal calprotectin.

I will repeat what Viklou said above.

Wow that’s really high.

[Unforgiven213 in reply to Hobbits]

The grim thought of cancer is what keeps me on my toes. That's really bad inflamation if that test really is accurate, which is what makes me think of the worst case scenario.

[Hobbits in reply to Unforgiven213]

If I were you I would be asking your doctor so you are not left to worry about what it may or may not be.

Hopefully your doctor is following up with blood tests to check for inflammation markers in your blood or any other disease.

Some doctors do not like calprotectin tests because they can be inaccurate especially if you are not well.

I would also ask your doctor if your hypothyroidism could affect the test.

[FRreedman]

While I have not heard of a reading that high, the Calprotectin test is only for inflammation, and that is what it is indicating. As far as I am aware there is no threshold in the test to facilitate a diagnosis of anything else, including cancer. I would ask your GP what his thoughts are, but the most likely response is IBD. You need to see a GI consultant asap, in order to get yourself sorted.

[REF8]

Hi I'm just wondering what your results were? I just got my calprotectin levels back at 6300...I do have a colonscopy scheduled for this week..just wondering what your outcome was!

[40femaleFC6000FIT65 in reply to REF8]

Hi there, just wondering how your tests went and how you are getting on. It seems unusual to get FC that high but I read in another forum that FC that high is more indicative of IBD than C.

I too have had my FC back at 6000 with FIT of 65 which is positive due to having symptoms as well. Only had sigmoidscopy (normal with small hemerroud) and blood test (awaiting results) so far with gastroscopy, colonoscopy and CT in the pipeline.

[REF8 in reply to 40femaleFC6000FIT65]

I went in for a colonoscopy which showed moderate Crohn's. He was surprised as with those numbers he expected my Crohn's to be quite severe. There was a lot of inflammation present but he classified my Crohn's as moderate at the time and started me on medication. I hope all goes well for you!

[40femaleFC6000FIT65 in reply to REF8]

Thanks for the update and hopefully you are on the mend and the meds can help keep the symptoms at bay.

My gastroscopy showed mild gastritis in the stomach, colonoscopy didn't show anything but biopsies taken awaiting results this Thursday. Don't think mine could be Crohn's as that should be visualised during the scope unless its in the small bowel.

CT showed a few cysts or hemangiomas (clusters of blood vessels) in the liver requiring MRI scan to follow up.

Consultant will decide whether to go through with pill cam depending on biopsy results and how my symptoms evolve since the procedures.

Sorry for all this info but all this with gynae investigation on the side as mirena seems to have stopped working and have been bleeding for 6 weeks but gynae consultant wants to wait until the bowel investigations have been concluded before going further.