What could account for my CRP being 62 and my ESR 13? I have been diagnosed with GCA and was taking 8mg of prednisone at the time.

On the same day that the blood was drawn, my GCA was diagnosed (on good authority) as being in remission. Previously my CRP had never been higher than 20 and had been as low as 4. I didn't feel especially unwell and had no bacterial infection that I knew of. All these strange signs and symptoms which seem to defy logic! It's hard enough to deal with the known knowns without the unknown unknowns creeping about like stealthy spectres of giant cells with masks on! Nobody told me for 5 weeks that there was such an indication of possible inflammation so I was reducing the steroids quite rapidly as I thought I didn't need them because I was in remission. Such mysteries! ideal for crime detection devotees!

[NanaB43]

This looks as though it's another case of reducing the steroids too quickly!

[Hidden]

I was declared in GCA remission on 8mg of prednsn. I reduced the dosage very quickly at 1mg per fortnight and am on 4mg now with PMR discomfort so staying here for a while until in less discomfort. Praying every day that I do not relapse.

[Mischevious]

Hi Wendy

I hope that my reply does not add to your confusion but my CRP was 234 when diagnosed, has never been below 30 and yet the GCA appears to be in remission and I am down to 1mg prednisolone. I think it amounts to the fact that we are all different and my rheumy says that a good guide is how I feel so, if you feel OK, I would say do not worry too much about the figures - listen to your body.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A single elevated blood result is fairly meaningless - if it is out of character it should be checked soon after. Many things can lead to anomalous results, including lab errors.

To declare a patient "in remission" whilst still on pred seems a bit strange - as soon as symptoms and blood results normalise you can say the patient is in "drug-induced remission" anyway. Only when the pred dose is at zero without a return of symptoms can you claim that.

[Hidden]

Thank you mischevious and PMRpro, it would appear that bacterial infection can raise the CRP indices. Twice I have been told I was in remission. Once by my GP on the only occasion I had a blood test which did not have elevated markers (I think I was on 12.5mg of pred at the time), after 2.5mg reduction, headaches returned, and last time when on 8mg I had a physical exam and my pulses were back - hooray dosage reduction did not cause headaches to return! Maybe I am over GCA after 9 months of very low dose pred.