Zonulin, Stool
Code:6010
| Includes | Zonulin |
|---|
Analysis details
Methodology
- Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
Expected Turnaround Time
3 days
Special Instructions
- Do not use laxatives, rectal suppositories, or oils for 72 hours before collecting the stool specimen.
- If clinically appropriate and agreed upon with the ordering clinician, hold medications that affect intestinal motility (eg, belladonna, pilocarpine) and agents that change stool color (iron, bismuth, barium sulfate) for 72 hours prior to collection.
How to use
The Zonulin, Stool test assesses increased intestinal permeability by quantifying fecal zonulin, an intestinal permeability marker and haptoglobin 2 precursor. It supports evaluation in celiac disease and in selected autoimmune conditions, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In patients with celiac disease, serial measurements may assist in monitoring response to a gluten-free diet.
Limitations
Tight junctions (zonula occludens) between intestinal epithelial cells control paracellular passage of nutrients and antigens. Zonulin engages an epithelial receptor and initiates signaling that opens these junctions, thereby increasing permeability; this pathway represents a human analogue of the zonula occludens toxin mechanism. Elevations in zonulin have been demonstrated in active celiac disease and have been reported in type 1 diabetes, and increased permeability may precede clinically overt illness. Pharmacologic inhibition of the zonulin pathway has reduced permeability in experimental settings. Higher zonulin concentrations and barrier dysfunction have also been linked with several autoimmune disorders and with inflammatory bowel disease.
| Unit | ng/mL |
|---|---|
| Reference interval | — |
| Indications | Assessment of suspected increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut)., Adjunctive evaluation in patients undergoing workup for celiac disease., Supportive testing in the context of autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis., Monitoring changes in celiac disease during adherence to a gluten-free diet. |
Specimen Requirements
| Specimen | Stool |
|---|---|
| Container | Sterile Stool Container |