biochemistry - in active disease, biochemical abnormalities may include hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalcaemia, and hyoalbuminaemia. Abnormal LFTs due to associated chronic active hepatitis - increased ALT - or sclerosing cholangitis - increased alkaline phosphatase
ANCA - found in HLA-DR2 associated form of ulcerative colitis
radiology:
plain abdominal x-ray - excludes toxic dilatation, which is more than 5.5 cm in diameter in adults
barium enema:
diagnosis of extent and severity of the disease
procedure is contraindicated in those patients at risk of a toxic dilatation
rectal biopsy - taken at sigmoidoscopy
colonoscopy - this is contraindicated in those patients at risk of toxic dilatation. Allows multiple biopsies to be taken throughout the colon and delineation of the extent and activity of the disease
white cell scan - allows imaging in severe disease
molecular biology - a high intensity of CD44v6 and v3 epitope expression on crypt epithelial cells in patients with UC has been noted. This observation may have diagnostic potential in distinguishing UC from Crohn's
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