HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Elevated calprotectin levels - IBD?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/17/2018 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

So for the last 6-7 years I've had bowel issues, mainly swinging between constipation with the very occasional bout of D. I was tentatively diagnosed with IBS as I had no other red flag symptoms, but 2 years ago went for a flexible sigmoidoscopy anyway. It came back as no inflammation, just hemorrhoid, so they put it down to IBS.

Fast forward to this summer a few weeks ago and I had a bad bout of D that lasted 6 days and was going between 10-15 times a day. A couple days after it had calmed down a little I sent in a stool sample to get tested and make sure there was no bacteria, but they also put in for a calprotectin test on the stool. Apparently it came back elevated (but I don't know by how much as they didn't specify) and said it could be that I have IBD. My brother has UC, so I'm kind of familiar with it, but my symptoms differ a lot from his (he has very severe flare ups). At the same time I went to the doctor the other day who said I don't have to worry about my appointment being urgent as it could have just been an infection or something (even tho the bacteria came back negative)

Is there any other reasons for elevated calprotectin? I think this is the first time I've had this test, though I believe I had a blood test for inflammatory markers in the past like a couple years ago when I had the sigmoidoscopy, which came back normal.

I was supposed to have an initial appointment within 2 weeks but unfortunately the hospital near me doesn't have appointments until December so I have to wait that long. I cant change hospital in case they send me for a colonoscopy as I wouldn't be able to travel that far so it's the only one I can get to :/

My iron is slightly low but I have no other significant issues on my blood test, but at the same time my iron has always been a bit on the low side. (it was only slightly low anyway - not anemic)

Is it safe for me to wait until December? What if I had UC this whole time? My health anxiety is going crazy with worry over what kind of problems I have now and whether December will be leaving it too late..

I know this is not a place anyone can diagnose anyone but I wondered whether anyone would know of any other reasons for this calprotectin result, and what the usual symptoms are for UC?
Posted 8/17/2018 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Is there any other reasons for elevated calprotectin other than IBD? Yes, absolutely. The most common cause for intestinal inflammation is an infectious or pathogenic cause like Clostridium difficile. You can get infectious-proctitis. IBD/UC is extremely rare, and an uncommon finding. That test measures whether inflammation is present within the intestine and does not specify the cause. A stool test for infectious causes, and a colonoscopy would be needed to know for certain.

1.) I'd recommend you see your family doctor or General Practitioner.

2.) Ask for a copy of your calprotectin test to see what elevated means. It could be just slightly above normal and of no concern at all, and your health anxiety is just running wild with it.

3.) Ask for a stool test to look for possible infectious causes to your symptoms.

I am skeptical you have an IBD/UC as you do not mention blood in stool; the most common symptom that causes us to seek out a diagnosis of UC. Diarrhea and urgency are an IBS.
Posted 8/17/2018 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
iPoop, the poster mentioned having the stool tested for infectious agents when it was also tested for calprotectin.

IBD/UC is not extremely rare, not at all, not by any definition of extremely rare.

Blood in stool is common with UC, although it doesn't always occur. But there are other forms of IBD, such as Crohn's or microscopic colitis, in which blood in the stool is less common.

As for elevated calprotectin, it can be due to inflammation from IBD. It can also happen from infections, bacterial, viral, etc. It can also happen due to several medications.

LuSmith, are you on any medications, even over-the-counter?

Find out how high your calprotectin was. Get copies of blood tests, including CBC with diff, CRP, ESR, metabolic panel, iron stores, etc, or get them redone from your primary care doctor.
Posted 8/18/2018 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
The initial doctor who called me said it was blood in the stool, which was weird, but when I went to see a different doctor to speak about it they just mentioned the calprotectin levels. So I have no idea whether there was actually blood in the stool or not, I think I need to get clarification from the doctor for that.

Yeah I did have it tested for infection, it came back negative on that front. But for all I know it could have been a viral infection - which is what they suspected first. I just don't know if that can cause elevated levels.

Hmm yeah I'm on medications - mainly omeprazole, colofac (which was meant for my IBS), sertraline/zoloft and cetirizine.

I'll try and see if I can get copies or at least be informed on the results a bit more, I don't think they tend to give you copies in my country but I guess it's worth asking.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply