Description

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum: 

Symptoms

  • The most common symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea with blood or mucus. Other symptoms include: 
  • Fever 
  • Feeling like you need to pass stools, even though your bowels are already empty 
  • Joint pain and swelling 
  • Mouth sores (ulcers) 
  • Nausea and vomiting 
  • Skin lumps or ulcers

This panel includes the following test:

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14)

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

p-ANCA

Vitamin B12 and Folate

Fasting not required.

Additional information about each test is listed below:

C-reactive protein (CRP) is important in monitoring ulcerative colitis because it acts as a key blood marker for inflammation in the body, allowing doctors to assess the severity of the disease activity and track how well treatment is working, especially in cases of severe or active ulcerative colitis; high CRP levels typically indicate significant inflammation within the colon, signifying a flare-up of the disease.

A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14) with an eGFR blood test can help assess liver and kidney health, which can be important for people with ulcerative colitis. The CMP-14 can also help identify electrolyte imbalances, which can be a factor in ulcerative colitis.

A complete blood count (CBC) is important for someone with ulcerative colitis because it can help detect signs of inflammation, anemia (low red blood cell count) caused by blood loss in the stool, and potential infections, which are all common complications of the disease, allowing doctors to monitor the severity of the condition and adjust treatment accordingly.

A positive p-ANCA (perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) test is important in diagnosing ulcerative colitis because it is a marker that is frequently found in people with the disease, helping to differentiate it from other inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease, and can provide information about disease activity and potential response to treatment.

People with ulcerative colitis (UC) can experience deficiencies in both vitamin B12 and folate due to malabsorption issues in the intestines, which are affected by the inflammatory process, potentially leading to symptoms like weakness, weight loss, and confusion if not addressed with supplements or dietary modifications; however, while folate deficiency can be more prevalent in UC patients, the rate of vitamin B12 deficiency is usually similar to the general population as the primary absorption site for B12 is typically not significantly impacted by UC.