What are the normal blood ESR and CRP levels I have never understood what they should be?

[Jackadoodle]

Blood Levels ESR CRP

[Hessie5]

Hi

Normal as taken from my blood test showed these ranges as:

ESR: 1-20 mm/h

CRP: 0-5 mg/L

Helix is one of the gurus when it comes to all this so may chip in. For now this is what I can see from my printout.

[Jackadoodle in reply to Hessie5]

Many thanks for the reply. Does that mean when you have a blood result should I be looking at the higher or lower scale for a good result?

[Hessie5 in reply to Jackadoodle]

Hi - you ideally don't want anything greater than the top figures, although mine peaked at nearly 100 on both readings meaning active inflammation and pain for me.

[FunBalloon]

I just wanted to add that these 2 markers are general signs of inflammation. So they are not specific for RA or even a rheumatic disease but can give an indication that there is inflammation somewhere in the body

[sunnyweek]

I've always been led to believe by my rheumatologist the same as Hessie5, normal range:

ESR 1-20

CRP 0-5

[Jackadoodle in reply to sunnyweek]

Many thanks

[sunnyweek in reply to sunnyweek]

A good result should be the lower the number the better.

[nomoreheels]

It can vary slightly according to the lab where your bloods are tested (as you can see in the difference between Hessie's ESR value range & mine) but as an example the normal ranges in my drug monitoring book are listed as

ESR 1-7mm/hr & CRP <6mg/L.

They are helpful insofar they can give an indication of chronic or long term inflammation (ESR) or acute or current (CRP) inflammation. They are used as one of the DAS 28 calculations once diagnosed or as part of drug monitoring. Some Rheumys rely heavily on them but to my mind it isn't always helpful as not everyone's inflammatory markers are a true indication of disease activity, I'm one of those who has obvious inflammation yet my markers remain within normal values generally.

[Jackadoodle in reply to nomoreheels]

I don’t quite understand as my doctor says keep away from crowds as your immune system is nearly non existent, I may have to come off MTX so would I have a high reading or low reading.

[nomoreheels in reply to Jackadoodle]

What is it that you don't understand, if you could expand. Are your values reading high, is this what you mean? If so that would indicate disease activity, that you're not too well controlled. As your doctor (Rheumy?) says that your immune system is low then it makes sense that you stay away from anyone with colds etc, you need to keep as healthy (generally) as poss, a low immune system leaves you at risk of catching any nasties going round.

[Hessie5 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks nomoreheels - that's good to know. I was always told by my markers I have active disease progression....

[nomoreheels in reply to Hessie5]

You're welcome Hessie. Pleased it was helpful.

[wishbone]

I'm the opposite to nomoreheels inasmuch as my inflammation markers rise as my disease becomes more active. Last reading of my CRP was 96, which was up on the previous one of 65 as was my pain, and if true to form if it was tested again today it will have easily broken through the 100 barrier.

[Hessie5 in reply to wishbone]

Looks like we’re in competition wishbone - I nearly got to the three digits of 💯

Think I am peaking at around 50 now - whilst on a biologic. Pred takes it right down.

[wishbone in reply to Hessie5]

Goddamnit Hessie, you must be so disappointed just failing to reach a ton!...I really feel for you!

As you no doubt know, the reason mine is so high is due to being off baricitinib for the past 5 weeks, and as yet there's no sign of me restarting it. In fact my CRP feels like it's still rising.

[Hessie5 in reply to wishbone]

😂 excuse the typos just corrected - see this is what RA is doing to me!

I had the same issue with no meds, hence Prednisone to the rescue, it got me through. Are you set for another biologic? I am on my seventh.

Sending you lots of good wishes and swift healing 🤗

[wishbone in reply to Hessie5]

Well, I may be in front of you with the CRP markers, but am way behind you on the number of biologics I've had! Only had enbrel in the past, which caused serious issues for me as apparently could all biologics, hence it's high risk for me to take not only biologics, but DMARDs and steroids as well, so no prednisone to the rescue for me! Apparently the best, and perhaps only option for me at present is to restart a low dose of baricitinib (a med that failed to work for you as I recall) when the remnants of a sinus infection and what appears to be an infected insect bite on my lower leg eventually clear. I'm taking antibiotics for the latter, which does feel a little less painful today so is hopefully improving. I shall soon find out when my GP has a look at it tomorrow........

My old rheumatologist told me that infections can make my RA worse, though I'm not sure that the two infections I currently have are bad enough to have much affect.

Lots of good wishes from me too, and hope you find a med that suits you soon.

[helixhelix]

If you have particular problems with your immune system then you can be more open to catching everything that’s going, and if you have an infection your numbers will generally rise. But when you don’t have an infection your numbers will be the same as everyone else’s. Unless your disease is active which will also make the numbers rise whether even with no infection.

BUT, of course we are all different. So your normal and my normal are probably different. I have naturally low inflammation markers (wishbone & hessie put your finger in your ears👂🏼👂🏼). So when diagnosed and hardly able to move my ESR was a measly 21. These days it’s 1 or 2 and if I flare it goes up to......7 or 8!!

And a lot of doctors increase the range for older people so consider ESR 1-30 and CRP O-10 is ok for the over 60s.

[Hessie5 in reply to helixhelix]

Wow - that's unbelievable HH. I only pray for mine to get back to norm. One day.

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

Years ago, when my ESR was 86 (I was 36 at the time) My then GP told me that 20 or below was normal. My ESR and CRP now are usually around 4-5.

[wishbone in reply to helixhelix]

Jeepers helix, just imagine the state you'd be in if your ESR reached 30!

[helixhelix in reply to wishbone]

In hospital! It’s just so bizarre. When I swapped doctors and turned up crawling into her office with blood tests results of 9 she didn’t believe me - until she tried to shake hands with my sausage fingers and looked at the swollen knees and wrists. I now have a nifty spreadsheet to demonstrate my fluctuations, which will be the same as yours but 10 times smaller!

[JFlay]

I have read that there is a formula to work out the top reading for ESR, for women (sorry can't remember the men's formula) it is:

Your age + 10 ÷ 2

So for me it would be 58 + 10 ÷ 2 = 34

Mine was 103 😒

[Hidden]

Wow just read all these I need a drink.......thank you all its a minefield and then astounded for the knowledge you have all gained. From the Novice of RA

[Jackadoodle]

Many thanks for all your replies I have had a blood test today and wait the result to see if I have to stop taking MTX. Thankyou

[CagneysMum]

Hi

When I first saw my Rheumatoid consultant my CRP was 120 and ESR was about 54. He told me that normal should be around 4 forCRP and 14 for ESR. That was 18 months ago and not yet there... but much improved 😁

[dembonesDAMNBONES]

Scratches his head, totally baffled, being new to all this and not having a Scooby what they're talking about.