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Test for Crohn's?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/13/2008 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi.

This past winter, I developed a recto-anal fistula.  Soon after I  had a colonoscopy.  Both Doc and pathology report agreed that I have Ulcerative Colitis. Last week doctor mentioned that at our next appt in three months, he might want to give me a blood test to see if I have Crohn's.  I have a vague memory of reading about such a test on this board, but I can't remember the name to look it up.  Seems like I read that it was not a very reliable test.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks. wink

Posted 11/13/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)

There is a new blood test that came out from Prometheus labs that can be used for an IBS diagnostic. I took it a week and half ago. Check out the link below.

http://www.prometheuslabs.com/ 

Posted 11/13/2008 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I had this test done too. It came out ninety something percent sure I have UC and not CD, but all of my GI's are extremely sceptical regarding this test. Anything much shy of 100 percent is not that useful in the end, but I wish it could be more definite.
Posted 11/13/2008 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I also had it and it showed over 90 percent UC, even though I have some very atypical symptoms. It's the IBD serology 7. Here's a direct link:

http://www.prometheuspatients.com/Products_Diagnostics.asp
Posted 11/13/2008 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
A fistulas is a pretty good indication of CD since with CD the inflammation can affect the many layers of the intestinal lining (even going right through all the layers) which leads to fistulas, where as with UC the inflammation remains on the surface of the lining only.

:)
Posted 11/13/2008 9:12 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the info everyone!  I never would have remembered the name of it on my own.    I wonder if my insurance would pay for it after a repeated diagnosis of UC over the last few years.

Your right pb4, the fistula really is the main thing that casts doubt on the colitis dx.  Otherwise I guess I have classic UC symptoms of blood, mucus, gas and D.

Posted 11/13/2008 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
You likely have crohn's colitis which is CD affecting the colon...one other difference between UC and CD is with CD the inflammation is patchy (healthy tissues in between) with UC the entire area will be inflamed.

:)
Posted 11/14/2008 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
I was dxed with UC back in May '06, reaffirmed by c-scope in January '07. I had a prmoetheus blood test done while I was in the midst of a full on flare in July...it came back as negative for either Crohn's or UC. A month later I had a c-scope done, and I had inflammation and scarring as well as pseudo-polyps in 70cm of my intestine..and proved once again that I really did have UC.

The prometheus test is not infallible, and only has an 80% accuracy rate. There are several members on the board who have had the test done and it came back negative despote a bundle of evidence to the contrary. One other member that I can think of, Emory, had been dxed via c-scope as UC, but the prometheus test showed negative for IBD.

Another drawback to the prometheus is that it usually not covered by insurance, which makes it a very expensive test to give a flase diagnosis (at least for me and others). The blood test for crohn's/UC wound up costing me $345 out of pocket, no insurance help.

The gold standard for diagnosing Crohn's and UC is through c-scope and biopsies. For sure, the blood test is less invasive, so go ahead and get it done. Just don't take the results as the gospel. If it comes back negative, do the old standard: c-scope, which will do a much better of giving you a concrete dx.

Good luck. I hope the prometheus test works for you, and I also hope for your sake that you only have UC. Crohn's, while similar to UC, has it's own challenges, and those with Crohn's tend to have more complications, and a harder time gaining remission. Hopefully this won't be the case for you.

Everyone who has gotten the test done, please keep us posted on what you test results came back as. I would love to be able to recommend the prometheus over c-scopes, but at this point, I can only let people know the failings of the prometheus. It would be great to say that the prometheus is very reliable. Please give me the info I need to sway my opinion.
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