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what is the test that confirms uc

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Posted 7/24/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
i don't remember what it is that confirms the diagnosis of uc -is it a specific marker in the tissue or the blood?what is it called?
thanks
Posted 7/24/2008 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
To confirm Uc it's usually done by colonoscopy because the other blood work up is not 100% accurate. A biopsy is taken while having a cscope and the docs look at it under a microscope. But not every test is 100% accurate including the cscope. Some of the markers they check in the blood is elevated WBC which indicates inflammation somewhere in the body or sometimes the docs will send out the blood to Prometheus Labs.
Posted 7/24/2008 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
They did a colonoscopy and biopsies to find UC in my colon.  Noone has done bloodwork on me yet.  I am going to a new GI soon and he probably will.

Posted 7/24/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
They can also diagnose UC by doing a CAT scan.
Posted 7/24/2008 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

jessiesmom said...
They can also diagnose UC by doing a CAT scan.

CAT scans are not definitive by any means...it missed my pancolitis all together and I was in the midst of a very bad flair.
Posted 7/25/2008 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
You're probably thinking of the ANCA/ASCA/pANCA tests. Our son was originally diagnosed with Crohn's, but his new GI was questioning that because he has now developed ulcerative proctitis which is more common in UC patients. We went ahead with the Prometheus Lab IBD-9 serology panel and it shows that it's UC. Of course nothing is 100% accurate, but Prometheus uses an algorithim that is highly accurate.

Posted 7/25/2008 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
Positive ANCA! Aha lol ya know I have been racking my brain trying to remember the name of that test! Thanks Terri :)

Rey, a positive ANA or ANCA test indicates that there is something wrong with the immune system. This test can also come up positive for many other auto immune diseases such as Lupus and RA. So when this test comes up positive and you have other symptoms to go along with it, the docs put 2 and 2 together.
Posted 7/25/2008 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
I had a test called a Fecal Calprotectin - I think it evaluates that amount of inflammation you have in your colon as opposed to a general reading of inflammation like a ESR CRP Blood Test.

G

Post Edited (Gargamel) : 7/25/2008 6:47:53 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/25/2008 12:31 PM (GMT 0)

for what it's worth, the surgeon I met with twice told me there really is no definitive test to differentiate between UC and Crohns- the only definite is when they do a pathology report on the colon once it's removed. If you read the ostomy forums & such, you'll find that everyone post-surgery is eagerly awaiting the path report. All the diagnostic tests they currently use are like pointers- they give enough clues, put the results together with symptoms & scope pictures, & make a diagnosis based on that. The CCFA website has some good info on the tests currently in use, & how making a definite diagnosis is really impossible.

Posted 7/26/2008 3:51 AM (GMT 0)

Eva Lou said...

for what it's worth, the surgeon I met with twice told me there really is no definitive test to differentiate between UC and Crohns- the only definite is when they do a pathology report on the colon once it's removed. If you read the ostomy forums & such, you'll find that everyone post-surgery is eagerly awaiting the path report. All the diagnostic tests they currently use are like pointers- they give enough clues, put the results together with symptoms & scope pictures, & make a diagnosis based on that. The CCFA website has some good info on the tests currently in use, & how making a definite diagnosis is really impossible.

Yep, that's what I believe too.
Posted 7/26/2008 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard the same thing as Eva Lou. I've talked to 2 surgeons this week and they both said that the pathology report of the removed colon will tell us for sure whether it's Crohn's or UC. However, it is a very small percentage of people who were thought to have UC but actually have Crohn's.

Posted 7/26/2008 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Well, they can sure differentiate Crohn's when it causes adhesion, elephant ears, & other extreme protrusions/outgrowths. Some patients have their gut oozing right out the front of their torso. pb4 posted some photos about a month ago that show how bad it can get-- nothing comparable with UC. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
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