Abdominal Symptoms Panel

Detailed description of each biomarker in the Abdominal symptoms Blood Test Faecal Calprotectin What: A protein released by white blood cells in the gut during inflammation. Shows: Elevated levels indicate intestinal inflammation, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Benefits: Helps differentiate between IBD and IBS, monitors disease activity in IBD, and can guide treatment decisions. Who: Individuals with persistent abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or suspected IBD. CRP (C-Reactive Protein) What: A general marker of inflammation. Shows: High levels suggest inflammation, more likely in IBD than IBS. However, it's non-specific and can be elevated in various conditions. Benefits: Helps distinguish between inflammatory causes of symptoms (like IBD) and non-inflammatory ones (like IBS). Who: People with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, or other signs of inflammation. Urea, Creatinine, eGFR What: Assess kidney function. Shows: Impaired kidney function can worsen bowel symptoms and lead to other complications. Benefits: Ensures general health and kidney function since abdominal symptoms aren't always bowel-specific. Who: Anyone with abdominal problems, especially with changes in urination or swelling. (Electrolytes) What: Essential minerals involved in fluid balance and bodily processes. Shows: Levels of sodium. Severe diarrhoea or vomiting can cause electrolyte imbalances. Benefits: Identifies if electrolyte disturbances are contributing to or worsening the symptoms. Who: People with significant vomiting, diarrhoea, or known electrolyte issues. ALT, AST, ALP, Bilirubin, GGT (Liver panel) What: Liver enzymes and proteins. Shows: Liver problems can sometimes manifest with abdominal symptoms, nausea, and fatigue. Benefits: Rules out liver issues as a primary cause of the symptoms. Who: People with jaundice (yellowing), fatigue, dark urine, or right upper abdominal pain. tTG-IgA (Tissue Transglutaminase IgA antibody) What: The primary screening test for celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten. Shows: Positive results suggest potential celiac disease, often causing abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and bloating. Further testing is usually needed for confirmation. Benefits: Identifies whether celiac disease could be responsible for the symptoms. Who: People with persistent abdominal symptoms, diarrhoea, malnutrition, or family history of celiac disease. Iron, Ferritin, UIBC, TIBC What: Assess iron status. Shows: Iron deficiency can manifest as fatigue, weakness, and sometimes contribute to abdominal problems. It can occur due to malabsorption in IBD or celiac disease. Benefits: Guides treatment if iron deficiency is found, as it's a common issue in bowel conditions. Who: People with abdominal symptoms, fatigue, shortness of breath, and those at risk of iron deficiency. Full Blood Count (FBC) (Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, White cells, Platelet count) What: Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Shows: Detects anaemia, distinguishes its type, and clues about potential infection, bleeding issues, or inflammation. Benefits: Very broad but helpful in initial evaluation of abdominal symptoms, as potential causes are numerous. Who: Everyone with abdominal symptoms, but especially those with severe symptoms or blood in stools. Active B12 (Holotranscobalamin) What: Most accurate marker of functional B12 status. Shows: B12 deficiency can cause abdominal issues, fatigue, anaemia, and neurological symptoms. Malabsorption is common in IBD and celiac disease. Benefits: Confirms usable B12 status – important if bowel diseases are suspected. Who: People with abdominal problems, fatigue, those at risk of deficiency (vegans, older adults, certain medications).