Can you have Crohns with a normal calprotectin ?

[Sascot]

I was just wondering how much to rely on faecal calprotectin results? According to our paediatrician a normal calprotectin means it isn't IBD. I was concerned about my daughter - joint pain, tummy pain, tiredness and some chest pain but last year she had a normal calprotectin and we are waiting for results of one which I am sure will come back normal too. Does that mean it's definitely not Crohns? We are waiting for a paediatric referral which will probably take 3 months

 

[my little penguin]

You can have JSpA which tends to have sub clinical or clinical ( Ibd) which shows up later.
Can you get to a Rheumo ?

 

[my little penguin]

http://www.minnesotamedicine.com/Pa...9/September-2009/Clinical-Akin-September-2009

http://www.nature.com/nrrheum/journal/v8/n5/full/nrrheum.2012.37.html

 

[Tesscorm]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the FC result would only be an indicator of inflammation at that moment. If you have crohns but are in remission, you could have a normal FC. And, I am guessing that this would apply to EIMs that occur independent of a crohns flare.

 

[my little penguin]

You can have normal FC and Ibd if your Ibd is under control

 

[Maya142]

I looked into this for a friend - apparently there are some false negatives (I think it's 5%?).

For what it's worth, my daughter's calprotectin has never been very high (has been down to 36!), and I know of one other kid who has IBD but her FC has never been over 250. I can't imagine it's an accurate test for absolutely everyone...

 

[Farmwife]

I was told YES it can be normal when in a flare by the first GI.
That's why he never put much stock into the test. I don't know?

 

[Tesscorm]

Actually S's GI didn't seem to have a huge amount of confidence in it either. At most, only another bit of info...

 

[Sascot]

Great thanks. Our paediatrician seems to use it as THE test for IBD. Oh well, will wait and see. Can't get to a rheumo until seen the paediatrician - he is the one that deals with joint issues though. One thing after another - I am being sent for endoscopy and small bowel MRI. Andrew us the healthiest of all of us :lol:

 

[Clash]

I would say it is not definitive, or it would be more widely used. There was a time last summer that C's FC level was 14. Both the GI and I felt it indicated remission. Since then the GI has alluded to C being a tough case since he is asymptomatic and the he feels, looking back, the level of 48 wasn't indicative of the inflammation C probably had. Confusing.

 

[Catherine]

My understanding from DD GI's that a normal calprotectin make Crohn's under likely.

She also gave the impression that she believe a false low is more likely that a false high.

My youngest has low vitamin D and low iron and no others issues. If the calprotectin had been raised they would scope now.

 

[my little penguin]

DS currently has a FC of less than 15.
Even when he had almost every EIM it was only 88.
However when he was having bloody d two months later it had only drop to 248.
So I could see how "it depends"
Just like all things crohn's it's just one tiny piece to be used but nothing to bet the farm on sorta like bloodwork and inflammatory markers .