A highly sensitive and specific marker for detecting intestinal inflammation in ulcerative colitis is:
High-Yield Explanation
Active disease can be associated with a rise in acute phase reactants , platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a decrease in hemoglobin. Fecal lactoferrin is a highly sensitive and specific marker for detecting intestinal inflammation. Fecal calprotectin levels correlate well with histologic inflammation, predict relapses, and detect pouchitis. Leukocytosis may be present but is not a specific indicator of disease activity. Proctitis or proctosigmoiditis rarely causes a rise in CRP.