What Is a Normal Amount of ASCA Antibodies

Elevated antisaccharomyces cerevisae antibodies (ASCA) are associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), specifically Chron's disease. These antibodies can help doctors differentiate the type and severity of inflammation and are rarely found in normal people.

Significance

• ASCA antibodies indicate an abnormal immune response to baker's and brewer's yeast. Healthy people rarely show this immune response; the normal amount of ASCA antibodies is none. Antibody tests are valuable for early detection of Chron's and ulcerative colitis and can also rule out these diseases.

Exceptions

• A few people with celiac disease have an abnormal immune response to baker's or brewer's yeast and show ASCA without any signs or symptoms of Chron's disease. ASCA antibodies were present in only 8% of the healthy controls in a Belgium study.

Symptoms

• Chron's disease can be difficult to distinguish from colitis with other diagnostic tools. Symptoms of Chron's disease may include lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, rectal bleeding, arthritis, and skin problems.

Severity

• According to a study published in the 2004 Journal of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, "ASCA was associated with proximal (gastroduodenal and small bowel involvement) rather than purely colonic disease and with a more severe disease phenotype and requirement for surgery over a median follow-up time of 9 years."

Treatment

• There is no cure for Chron's disease. Medication, nutritional supplements, and surgery may be used to control symptoms.