Description
Diagnosis of gastrointestinal symptoms is complex. It can present with multiple symptoms including constipation, diarrhea, fever, dyspepsia, cramping and a multitude of other symptoms. Laboratory testing is helpful in the diagnosis process. Too frequently it is easy to do 2 or 3 test and endoscopy and still have the same symptoms. A more comprehensive evaluation frequently is necessary. Looking for other causes like Crohn's disease, alpha gal sensitivity caused by the Lone Star tick, peptic ulcer disease, liver disease, and a host of other causes. Starting with a more comprehensive lab panel can help guide your search for the cause of your gastrointestinal symptoms.
This panel includes the following test:
Acute Hepatitis Panel
Alpha-gal IgE
Amylase
Anti-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ASCA) IgG and IgA
C-reactive Protein (CRP)
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Fasting not required.
Additional information about each test is listed below:
An "Acute Hepatitis Panel" is ordered in a gastrointestinal context because hepatitis, a liver inflammation, often presents with gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and jaundice, which are all commonly associated with digestive issues, making it crucial to test for an active hepatitis infection when suspecting a gastrointestinal problem with potential liver involvement.
Alpha-gal IgE is relevant to gastrointestinal issues because it signifies an allergy to a sugar molecule called "alpha-gal" found in mammalian meat, which can trigger digestive symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when ingested, often occurring several hours after consumption, and is typically caused by a tick bite that sensitizes the body to this molecule, leading to an IgE-mediated allergic reaction in the gut when red meat is eaten; essentially, the presence of alpha-gal IgE indicates a potential for gastrointestinal symptoms upon consuming mammalian meat products.
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starches into sugars, which the body uses for energy. It's a key part of the digestive system because it helps the body absorb nutrients from food.
The anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) IgG and IgA test is ordered to help distinguish between Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in patients with signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
C-reactive protein (CRP) is used in gastrointestinal medicine as a marker for inflammation within the digestive tract, particularly in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn's disease, because elevated CRP levels indicate active inflammation in the gut, allowing doctors to monitor disease activity and assess treatment effectiveness.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is considered a key marker for gastrointestinal cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, because it's a protein primarily produced by the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract during fetal development, meaning healthy adults should have very low levels of CEA in their blood; therefore, a significantly elevated CEA level can indicate the presence of a gastrointestinal malignancy, most commonly colon cancer.
A complete blood count (CBC) is often used in gastrointestinal investigations because it can provide valuable information about potential bleeding, inflammation, or infection within the digestive system by analyzing the levels of red blood cells (for anemia indicating bleeding), white blood cells (elevated in infections), and platelets (important for clotting) in the blood, which can be affected by gastrointestinal issues like ulcers, Crohn's disease, or colitis.
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is often used in gastrointestinal investigations because it can provide valuable information about liver function, which plays a crucial role in digestion and can be affected by gastrointestinal issues; the CMP tests liver enzymes that can indicate liver damage or disease, helping to diagnose potential problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
