Flaring or not my CRP is always below 5; norm = 0 to 5

[Joy_1]

Some months ago someone had posted that her Rheumatology Nurse had noticed that when her CRP (C-reactive protein) hit 3 she was flaring.

So I decided to plot all the CRP data I had which is some 5 years worth and lo and behold there was a very nice trend. When my CRP hits 4 I am flaring.

I plotted my results on to a nice neat graph and emailed it to my Rheumatology Consultant. He was suitably impressed!

One begins to wonder about the literature that says some 20% of us don’t have the inflammatory markers, just may do after all!

[Cherub198889]

Different labs use different caculations . So when a lab says a CRP 5 and under is normal another lab could say a CRP 3 and under is normal. Both numbers mean the same level of inflammation. Just different calculations are used. At my lab the number we strive for is below 1. A CRP number above 1.9 is flaring.

[Joy_1 in reply to Cherub198889]

Hi Cherub

I am a scientist so I'm aware of this.

When I get all my blood test results I also get the ranges too. That way I know if they have changed the test. For example they recently changed the methodology for the ALT test. Norm range on my print out for CRP says 0 to 5.

[helixhelix]

It was possibly me, as I always have low inflammation markers and found the only way to convince doctors was to show them my graph of my results over last 7 years. In the first year you could see the levels plummet every time I had a steroid jab which looks quite dramatic. These days it's calmer, around 2 or 3 is normal and above that I go pear shaped....

[Joy_1 in reply to helixhelix]

I remember the lady who posted the info said she did not put 2 and 2 together herself. It was the Nurse who had the light bulb moment.

Helix it's good to hear from someone else who has plotted the results themselves. Now that is a good amount of data - 7 years worth!

Are you stuck on steroids? Or have DMARDS or Biologics kept your CRF down?

I recently had a flare. My CRP had climbed to 4.0; a dramatic increase in Pred and 5 days later it was at 2.3.

[helixhelix in reply to Joy_1]

I'm on triple therapy DMARDs, plus anti-inflammatories now and then. And steroid infusions when my levels climb above 8 or 9 - which is not very often thankfully. It works for me.

[Joy_1 in reply to helixhelix]

Glad to hear your treatment plan works for you Helix.