Ask a doctor on the topic of Internal medicine

M2PK Chair and Blood

May 15, 2018 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

During an annual health check-up, my doctor tested M2PK in stool and blood among other things. Both results for M2PK were too high:

Blood: 56 (limit 15)
Stool: 15.9 (limit 4)

Additionally, an elevated Calprotectin value was found in the stool: 82.6 (limit 50).

Now my doctor is recommending a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Are there any other things that should be clarified?

Some background information: In 2012, M2PK and Calprotectin were already significantly elevated (20, 208). As a result, gastroscopy and colonoscopy were performed. Without any findings. Between 2012 and today, M2PK and Calprotectin in the stool have been tested every year and the values were always okay. Since 2011, I have been living with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which I have been managing through dietary mindfulness for several years - meaning: I have no complaints. At the time of the last stool and blood tests, I was dealing with the lingering effects of pneumonia (diagnosed through auscultation and chest X-ray).

The above information may help in your assessment/response. Besides the question of what should be clarified, I am naturally worried about the possibility of having something worse...

Thank you very much!

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

The M2PK test is not recommended by any gastroenterological society because it is too unspecific and leads to too many false positive (elevated) results. That's why health insurance companies do not cover it, and it is viewed skeptically in the IGeL monitor. Therefore, I do not work with it.

Unfortunately, I do not know your age, and it would be reckless of me to advise against the endoscopy contrary to your doctor's recommendation. I would suggest going through with it, but without worry (Calprotectin is actually more of an inflammation marker), and if the endoscopy results are normal again, I would recommend repeating it routinely no earlier than ten years.

Best regards, Dr. Gehring