My esp and crp levels are slightly raised. What does this mean?

[Gracevw]

[oldtimer]

To over simplify - the ESR shows long term inflammation, CRP short term. They can go up when your disease is more active, or because you have an infection.

Single readings don't tell us much unless they are massively high - an ESR of 90, for example, usually results in someone being given high dose steroids.

It's more the trend- the way they go gradually up or down, which matters. If your readings are gradually increasing, then you need more active treatment, if they are decreasing, then your disease is under control.

And, to complicate matters, some people find that the tests don't reflect the disease activity - they have a flare that they can feel only too well, but their tests don't reflect that, or the other way around, so they are not always useful in some people.

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi Grace

You may find our article on blood tests helpful:

nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoi...

There is also a good website where you can look up blood tests and what they mean:

labtestsonline.org.uk/

Kind regards

Victoria

(NRAS Helpline)

[Hidden]

They are non-specific inflammatory markers though, so other things can cause it to be raised.

[Hidden]

The ideal ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) should be 20 or below. Anything up to about 25 is acceptable. Both are markers for the amount of inflammation you have.