C -reactive Protein What is considered high?

[KnitSewPurl]

Hi everyone,I was just looking through my test results on my NHS App in prep for my next appointment with consultant and found that my CRP was 49 in Dec 23 when I was contracted with Covid when I was told all my results were normal. Has any one has it that high? 🤷... My recent blood test they did not repeat the CRP at all🤦🤷 .. at the surgery. So , I am going to make a call to find out why.

[DorsetLady]

see this from PMRgcauk forum for information info on blood tests -and most would consider 49 as high, but it needs to be put in context - can be raised by many things.

Are you sure it’s not meant to be 4.9?

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Ask for it to be retested…

[KnitSewPurl in reply to DorsetLady]

I have screenshot my test results just to proof it this is my Dec results.

Test results shows 49

[PMRpro in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Well THAT is VERY clearly high! So someone wants a clip somewhere!!! However - if it was taken while you had a Covid diagnosis it is to be expected - any inflammation in the body will increase the CRP and anything that affects your lungs is likely to send it into orbit. Probably not worth worrying about but someone should have noted it at the time.

[KnitSewPurl in reply to PMRpro]

So , I have contacted My surgery and made an appointment to speak with GP to discuss about it . Hopefully will get somewhere with it.

[PMRpro in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Checked - and whoever identified is as normal reeducated about their duties!!!!

[DorsetLady in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Wasn’t suggesting you had got it wrong…😊

[KnitSewPurl]

Yes , and it should be repeated as well . Just to check that it has gone down

[FandNnan]

I spent an afternoon in hospital recently for thorough testing with a UTI and my CRP was 80 indicating a raging infection. Emergency Med Consultant said that was very high but it was "just a UTI" that was treated with antibiotics.

However I was heading towards possible AKI which has happened before so the fever and rigors I had were taken seriously.

Once infection/inflammation had gone no doubt the level reduced.

[Breavheart]

yes it’s high I have been having the CRP test the past few months mine was 37 that was considered high anything over 50 is concerning , anything from 1-5 I don’t think they worry too much. It could be infection or lots of things can push it up ,I’m still having tests for GCA , waiting for a PET scan ,mine recently went to 7 ,but I had a call off the doctor yesterday to say mine was back up to 14 , I have other problems and have been taking steroids they repeated my bloods in the past month . Good luck x

[Broseley in reply to Breavheart]

When I was diagnosed with GCA my CRP was 88. And that was on 15mg prednisolone. You shouldn't be waiting for a PET scan, you can't have one while you're on a high dose of prednisolone (40 - 60mg), which you should have been put on if they suspect GCA due to the risk to your eyesight. They tend to treat first then test by biopsy as soon as possible. Not everyone, including me, has a positive biopsy, but they still diagnose it as GCA.

[Breavheart in reply to Broseley]

Yes they started me on prednisolone 40 mg ,I have other medical issues besides a dicky heart , I have had lots of scans and tests in the past 2 months with and without contrast as soon as my doctor discovered the high CRP ,at the moment it is my choice about the biopsy because it can be inconclusive , i have had brain operation,s before, I am avoiding it at the moment i can not fault the treatment so far my rheumatologist is very caring and supportive , at my age i am choosing to wait ❤️‍🩹

[Broseley in reply to Breavheart]

Sounds like you are being treated respectfully and wisely.

[Lex54]

Hi if you were unwell with Covid this would be expected. I'm sure you have regular bloods and this would be a routine blood and checked on repeat. I would say if recovered from Covid then it's probably gone back to normal. I also would agree not within normal limits but Normal for having an illness. As a Paeds itu nurse I have seen many very high results of CRP this is elevated but not concerning if your unwell. Hope this helps. Return bloods will check!

[KnitSewPurl in reply to Lex54]

The thing was my recent bloods my GP surgery Did Not cover CRPwhich what surprised me. Any way I have any appointments call back with GP on 4th Nov hopefully it will get resolved.

[Mimi1900 in reply to KnitSewPurl]

The point is if you are better from the Covid they most likely would not repeat the CRP. Your rheumatologist might if he is trying to monitor if your treatment is working.

[OldTed60]

I had Covid first time and was just a week of testing negative when I had my last rheumatology appt in late August, a few months back. My blood was tested that day prior to starting Rituximab and I found out later that my CRP had been 120 but no comment at all. I contacted my GP practice for repeat testing of my own initiative and it had come back down to about 21 I think and now probably back in range I would guess. I think Covid causes inflammatory spikes during and afterwards - particularly in us autoimmune folk perhaps -but then many others who don’t get blood tests so might have a very high CRP during and after Covid too.

[Mimi1900]

Have you been having more trouble with your health since you had Covid? If you haven’t I think that is why it wasn’t redone since Covid was the most likely reason for its elevation and you got better from it.

[KnitSewPurl in reply to Mimi1900]

I have had x3chest infection .. this last one has been the worst... The previous one I had to get ambulance out as I was unable to breath lung shut down, they tried salbutamol inhalers did not work but when they did try steroids some of my airways opened up immediately but still not great. I recently had to request for my referral to be moved back to my original consultant as they tried to move me elsewhere and wasted nearly a year. .. so now I hv a contact number for chest clinic to chase up after certain date.

I reckon the covid has effected my lungs much more that before. Because my Bronchiatistis is only in my right upper lobe and doctors have been hearing crackles in my left lobe doesn't say where 🤷. My last lung function test was years ago under Consultant care .

[Mimi1900 in reply to KnitSewPurl]

I’m sorry that you have been having so many difficulties with your health. So I understand you might feel you are not getting the proper treatment?the fact that the GP didn’t retest your CRP is not evidence of them not doing their job though. Two main reasons to test CRP - to confirm that you might have an infection and also with autoimmune patient (who don’t have an active infection) to see how the treatment is working. This is by no means a specific test and often some SLE patients never have an elevation despite having a significant degree of inflammation.

[KnitSewPurl in reply to Mimi1900]

My CRP have always have some degree of elevation above 10 - 20 it has never gone above 20 . I have managed to keep it manageable in the last 14 years since the SLE was diagnosed in 2010. You could say it is very good until the doctors decided to take me off Hydroxychoroquine 🙄🤦😕.. last year .. everything went pear shape since then... Especially my lungs..

[Mimi1900 in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Why did you have to go off hydroxychloroquine !!! My first rheum (he retired) emphasizes I should stay on it for life bkz it helps so much (although it didn’t seem to help my arthritis much unlike methotrexate) but I still take both even tho I admit to being scared about the eye problems especially as they use some code in my chart of how it is a high risk prescription 😬). I think it is because I have taken it for over 15 years at this point…

Is there anyway they could reintroduce the hydroxychloroquine?

[KnitSewPurl in reply to Mimi1900]

The reason I came off Hydroxychoroquine was because the eye consultant was not able to tell whether my eyes- the deterioration were caused by my macular hereditary or by drugs after 14 years on it never had toxicity in those years and even when on the day when I saw her when she told me to stop Hydroxychoroquine. All because they could not differentiate one way or another and was told to stop Hydroxychoroquine and was referred to a Corneal specialist- was told my eye got very dry at the back when I saw the corneal specialist and was diagnosed with Sjögren's. My eye Consultant (not corneal) did suggest on an alternative drug that doesn't effect my eyes this I did put it forward to my rheumatology which she refused to write it up unless I have a skin biopsy , until today I have not had an appointment still on waiting list( what a laugh ) - typical NHS!!!. Eventhough my hospital records shows I was seen in clinic by a dermatologist during rheumatology clinic and my lupus spots was inspected and noted that they were lupus lesion spots. My consultant ( she is a new consultant )still refuse to believe that they are lupus lesion spots. What more can I say. I currently have a lesion spot which is growing fast . And it is effecting my right hip and knee as the spot is between the knee and hip. Some how the inflammation seems to have increased double the amount. Just been keeping myself on the top with painkillers.

[Jenfy34]

My last blood test was 4.4. Normal range is below 5. Mine was classed as border line.

[KnitSewPurl]

Update: Just had a phone call from GP suggested appointment with rheumatology to mention it as appointment is this Thursday and see what outcome is. 🤷As I hv been off Hydroxychoroquine awhile and been having flare ups so we shall see