CRP UP

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi All, 

Blood test results CRP up to 14 and ESR up to 61 I’m not happy as I feel good, not stiff or achey at all!!! So what’s wrong with me???

Andrea. Xx

2

Have you got anything else going on? A cold? Chest infection? ESR will go up with any minor infection, CRP will increase with chest problems. A single raised result shouldn't result in an increase in pred dose - but should be checked the following week. 

3

Hi Eileen,

Saw your response to Andrea and had a question.  Can your CRP continue high even though there is no pain or stiffness and your feeling fine?  If so what could the cause of the markers being elevated other than a cold etc.?

4

In some people it just stays high - and they can't find out why. 

One lady on the forums with GCA is tall and well built anyway but gained a lot of pred weight. Her CRP stuck at about 13 and as a result they were unwilling for her to reduce her pred dose. Then they decided (at her behest) that maybe it was HER - they checked with ultrasound to see if there was any sign of GCA. Nothing so she reduced and got off pred with no return of anything. On one occasion she had been to the GP for a UTI and got antibiotics - a few days later a terrified GP was on her doorstep at 8am because her CRP was high. She laughed at him - he'd totally forgotten the UTI and that was what had sent the CRP shooting up.

5

My ESR has never been under 50 with PMR in nearly four years and is currently over 100. Nobody seems to have a clue why and they just say it is always high in my case and shrug. My CRP went up to 415 in October it is currently still above 20. It is normally about that when I feel fine. 

6

Thanks so much.  

7

Hi Eileen, 

thanks for your response. I wouldn't say I've been ill in anyway, but just the odd sneeze and tickly throat, but certainly not a cold. So do you think that would elevate things? I did notice I was a little breathless too before Christmas which I put down to the steroid as it comes and goes. My GP did give me the lung capacity test, which was normal for my age. I agree with you on the CRP being personal to people, a bit like blood pressure, it's not exact in 2 people. My rheumatologist did say to me in August when I saw him last that I probably run with a slightly raised CRP, but it was 8 at that time. 

Andrea. Xx

8

Not sure how the numbers for CRP are so different.  I am in the US and CRP range on my blood test is 0-4.9 being in the normal range.  Anything over the 4.9 is out of range.

9

Just an update on my posting, my GP and rheumatology nurse say don’t have a knee jurk reaction by increasing prednisolone, but wait a week or so and have another blood test! 

Andrea xx