CHROMOGRANIN A Blood Test - Tumors???

[TREESE]

Greetings, my Forum Friends

I got a personal phone call at home from my GI Doctor yesterday telling me I needed to now see an Oncologist because he is concerned that my Out-of-Range Single Blood Test for Chromogranin A was out of Range again, for the 2nd time since he took it a few months ago.

Normal Range is 25-140ng/mL. The first one was 218H and this most recent one now 281H

He thinks my inability to gain weight back and my flare up 5 months ago of Diarrhea (which has settled down again) because of MC might be from a tumor, he says.

Is this particular Blood Test familiar to any of you in connection with MC? Please Reply as I have a lot of faith in your experience!

Thank you all most sincerely?
TREESE

[brandy]

Hi Treese,

Brandy here. It looks like chromagranin A can be high in people with inflammatory bowel disease (which we have) without the presence of a tumor.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19090560/

[brandy]

Here is a more recent study with the same findings.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24897131/

[brandy]

Treese,

There seems to be a lot of studies out there that those with inflammatory bowel disease--Crohn's, UC etc
test with higher chromogranin A without the findings of a tumor.

[brandy]

Good news that your D has settled down.

[TREESE]

Hi, Brandy!

Thanks for your Replies and the Links you sent! Ques: Is Microscopic Colitis (also called Collagenous Colitis) under that umbrella of IBS they were referring to in the Links?

I read Both Links, but they really were kind of deep for me. I didn't see any specific mention of CC. It did seem IBS was supposed to include other types of related bowel issues. Is CC included in those? It will give me hope again if I have understood it correctly!

PS Thanks for also congratulating me on the D stopping!

Hope to hear from you soon!
Bless You,
TREESE

[brandy]

Hi Treese,

We are by definition an IBD, inflammatory bowel disease. Microscopic Colitis and Collagenous Colitis is an IBD. We are not IBS.

I believe in the two studies I linked only Crohn's and UC were studied. Since Microscopic Colitis and Collagenous Colitis are more rare than Crohn's and UC it is unlikely that they have been or ever will be studied for chromogranin A.

I googled colitis and chromogranin A blood test to come up with the studies.

I also read that when you have an IBD you have increased inflammation in your body and the theory is that the high chromogranin A blood test is linked to higher inflammation in your body.

GREAT NEWS, I JUST FOUND A STUDY THAT SHOWED chomogranin A is higher in those with CC (with no tumor)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.10 ... 013-9612-4

I would print this study out and show it to your gastro and see what he/she says.

[TREESE]

Hi, Brandy! I looked at that new Link you just found and it Does mention CC in it. And the higher CgA counts, in general, in people with CC, because of their body's inflammation, is a fact. This is Very encouraging! Thank You so much!

So, with this information, it makes sense why our intestines need from 6 months to 2 years to fully heal after a flare-up.

PS I also only just learned from you that IBD is different than IBS. Like where have I been,,,duh! haha

Thanks again, Brandy! You Really helped me not be so anxious about my GI's referring me to an Oncologist because of my last 2 blood tests showing high Chromogranin A levels!

Have a blessed day!
TREESE