ASCA (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies)
ASCA are antibodies against mannan, a sugar from the cell wall of baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. They are measured in serum.
How ASCA arise
Yeast components enter the gut with food. When more of them pass through the gut lining to the immune system – for example with an inflamed or permeable lining –, it forms antibodies against them. ASCA are thus a sign of an immune reaction to yeast antigens from the gut.
Raised ASCA – what does it mean?
Raised ASCA are found particularly often in Crohn's disease, less often in ulcerative colitis, and also in coeliac disease and in some healthy relatives of affected people. The value is therefore an additional indication, not proof of a disease; together with ANCA it helps in assessing chronic gut inflammation.
Low ASCA – what does it mean?
A low value is unremarkable, but does not rule out chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
The interpretation is given in your report.
Also known as: asca, p-asca, saccharomyces antibodies, crohn's disease
Contexts in which this value is measured
- Chronic diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Exhaustion
Analyses that include this value
There is currently no analysis in the shop for this value. A practitioner or doctor from the ORY expert network can tell you how else it can be determined.
View the expert networkReference ranges and how your personal value is to be read are set out in your findings report. You discuss the findings with a practitioner or doctor from the ORY expert network.