Test Code: 

701264


Clinical Use

  • Assists physicians in differentiating Crohn’s Disease from Ulcerative Colitis

  • Early and accurate differential diagnosis may be critical, given the severity of potential complications

  • Useful in stratification of Crohn’s Disease subtypes1

  • High predictive value in children with IBD symptoms – may reduce need for further invasive testing2


Panel Includes

  • ANCA Screen with reflexes to P-ANCA, C-ANCA, and Atypical P-ANCA Titers

  • Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) IgG and IgA

  • Myeloperoxidase Antibody (MPO)

  • Proteinase-3 Antibody


Clinical Background

Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are the most common forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a broad category of conditions marked by inflammation of the intestines. Although UC and CD are typically differentiated on the basis of clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic findings, distinguishing between these conditions can be difficult in about 10% to 15% of patients, especially when disease is confined to the colon. Because the treatment and prognosis of UC and CD differ, accurate diagnosis is critical for management.

Numerous studies have investigated the utility of 2 serologic markers, perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), in differentiating between UC and CD. The pANCA associated with IBD differs from that found in the vasculitides, having an “atypical” perinuclear staining pattern that can be identified by differential staining patterns with ethanol and formalin fixation. This atypical pANCA is found in about 50% to 80% of UC patients but only 10% to 30% of those with CD. ASCA, on the other hand, is more common in CD (46% to 70%) than in UC (6% to 12%).3,4 The combination of these markers has high specificity for UC (94% to 97%; pANCA+/ASCA–) and CD (81% to 98%;ASCA+/pANCA–).5 Serologic results can also assist in stratification of CD: pANCA-positive CD is associated with a clinical phenotype similar to that of UC (UC-like CD),4 while positivity for ASCA IgG and IgA is associated with non-UC-like disease.6

Several reports have noted the potential utility of serologic testing, combined with other clinical and laboratory information, to identify children with suspected IBD who may not require invasive testing.2,7


Specimen Requirements

2.0 mL refrigerated serum from a plain red-top tube or serum separator tube (1.4 mL minimum).


CPT Codes*

Screen: 86021 x3, 86671 x2
Reflexes: P-ANCA Titer: 86021
C-ANCA Titer: 86021
Atypical P-ANCA Titer: 86021


Method

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Immunoassay/Immunoassay


References

  1. Klebl FH, Bataille F, Bertea CR, et al. Association of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies with Vienna classification subtypes of Crohn’s disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2003;9:302-307.

  2. Dubinsky MC, Ofman JJ, Urman M, et al. Clinical utility of serodiagnostic testing in suspected pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96:758-765.

  3. Savige J, Dimech W, Fritzler M, et al. Addendum to the International Consensus Statement on testing and reporting of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Quality control guidelines, comments, and recommendations for testing in other autoimmune diseases. Am J Clin Pathol. 2003;120:312-318.

  4. Abreu MT, Vasiliauskas EA, Kam LY, et al. Use of serologic tests in Crohn’s disease. Clinical Perspectives in Gastroenterology. 2001;4:155-164.

  5. Reumaux D, Sendid B, Poulain D, et al, Colombel JF. Serological markers in inflammatory bowel diseases. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2003;17:19-35.

  6. Walker LJ, Aldhous MC, Drummond HE, et al. Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in Crohn’s disease are associated with disease severity but not N0D2/CARD15 mutations. Clin Exp Immunol. 2004;135:490-496.

  7. Bartunkova Kolarova I, Sediva A, et al. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies, and specific IgE to food allergens in children with inflammatory bowel diseases. Clin Immunol. 2002;102:162-168.

 

←Back