CRP versus Fecal Calprotectin

CRP is a general inflammation marker - it doesn't tell you where in the body the inflammation is coming from. Hence, it is not necessarily correlated with FCP.

FCP meanwhile is most sensitive to inflammation at the end of the colon/rectum - because when it's produced higher up it can break down before being excreted.

So you could have 5cm moderate/severe inflammation on the rectum and a sky high calprotectin reading, while barely anything registering on the CRP test.

Have your labs included ESR test? You might see a different correlation between that & FCP. In my testing history ESR has always risen in times of UC flares, whereas CRP only showed a rise when I've had non-UC ailments. Some members here have reported no correlation at all between the blood markers & FCP. *** Thanks for clarification RE measurement the FCP test indicates most reliably, Poopydoop! (I think it's basically useless in most situations.) / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)

My ESR bounces between 30-50 when this beast is out of the cage. Praying for the day when I might notice a normal CRP, ESR and fecal calprotectin. I assume I would feel pretty darn well and normal at that point in time, if my results ever get there. But I have to be realistic with my expectations. Relatively early on, my UC situation advanced rather rapidly to severe pancolitis which meant I would face a long and difficult road back to some degree of normalcy, if normalcy is even possible for someone in my situation.

My CRP was a completely normal 2.1mg/L (normal range is less than 8mg/L ) when I was hospitalized with a fecal calprotectin greater than 1000mcg/g (too high for the test to even measure, lol; normal range is less than 120 mcg/g)

So... there's not always a direct correlation. Fecal calprotectin is the most accurate test to see how your colon is doing.

Post Edited (magicbeans) : 1/19/2022 1:01:26 PM (GMT-7)

magicbeans said...

Ms2011 said...
My GI called last week as my fecal calprotectin was 3000.
I feel fine, no nausea which can be my worst symptom at times, 1 mostly solid BM with no mucous or blood. Feeling tired though so who know, colonoscopy booked for a fortnight so be interesting to see what that turns up 🤔

Holy bananas! You didn't even have diarrhea with a fecal calprotectin that high!??? Is your UC very high up in the colon?

BM was soft but not diarrhoea at the time of the test, its gone back to normal now.
My official diagnosis is ulcerative colitis with isolated cecal patch.

Calprotectin of 3000+ mild symptoms with IBD escalated very quickly to pancreatitis pulmonary embolism

UCyousee said...

Ms2011 said...

BM was soft but not diarrhoea at the time of the test, its gone back to normal now.
My official diagnosis is ulcerative colitis with isolated cecal patch.

Do you just have one caecal patch? Just curious because I have patchy pancolitis and often get a patch by my caecum, but sadly I get it elsewhere too!

I'd have to root out my last colonoscopy report to be sure bit from memory yes I just have the one patch.