A SENSITIVE MARKER OF GASTROINTESTINAL INFLAMMATION AND IS AN IMPORTANT TEST FOR DIFFERENTIATING INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD) E.G. ULCERATIVE COLITIS, CROHN'S DISEASE FROM FUNCTIONAL GUT DISORDERS SUCH AS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS). IT MAY BE USED TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR ENDOSCOPY IN PATIENTS SUSPECTED TO HAVE IBD.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
LEVELS MAY ALSO BE INCREASED BY OTHER CAUSES E.G. GASTROINTESTINAL MALIGNANCIES, POLYPS, INFECTIOUS GASTROENTERITIS, USE OF NSAIDs ETC.