Constipation laboratory findings

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]

Overview

There are no diagnostic laboratory findings necessary for diagnosing constipation in young people without alarm signs. Laboratory test for exclusion of underlying diseases are complete blood count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine, serum phosphate levels, blood glucose levels, liver function tests (LFTs), fecal occult blood test, thyroid function tests, serum calcium levels, and serum magnesium levels. In case of high suspicion, other laboratory tests may be needed such as serum protein electrophoresis, urine porphyrins, serum parathyroid hormone, and serum cortisol levels.

There are no diagnostic laboratory findings necessary for diagnosing constipation in young people without alarm signs.^[1]

Screening tests for excluding underlying causes as cause of constipation include:^[2]

In case of high suspicion, other laboratory tests may be needed including:^[2]

↑ "An evidence-based approach to the management of chronic constipation in North America". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 100 Suppl 1: S1–4. 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.50613_1.x. PMID 16008640.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Rao SS, Meduri K (2011). "What is necessary to diagnose constipation?". Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 25 (1): 127–40. doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2010.11.001. PMC 3063397. PMID 21382584.