CRP and ESR

[jules1955]

One last question what is normal range for CRP and ESR and above what number shows inflammation?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

This is something I found last year -

ESR & CRP Range

ESR

Sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a blood test that can reveal inflammatory activity in your body. A sed rate test isn't a stand-alone diagnostic tool, but it can help your doctor diagnose or monitor the progress of an inflammatory disease.

When your blood is placed in a tall, thin tube, red blood cells (erythrocytes) gradually settle to the bottom. Inflammation can cause the cells to clump. Because these clumps are denser than individual cells, they settle to the bottom more quickly.

The sed rate test measures the distance red blood cells fall in a test tube in one hour. The farther the red blood cells have descended, the greater the inflammatory response of your immune system.

Averages (based on 1996 study)

Age 20. Men 12, Women 18

Age 50. Men 14, Women 21

Age 90. Men 19, Women 23

Another study shows slightly difference values -

Age under 50. Men 0-15, Women 0-20

Age over 50. Men 0-20, Women 0-30

CRP

Clinical Indications

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is the most sensitive acute phase protein and is the assay of choice in most situations when detection or monitoring of the acute phase response is required. CRP is specific for the acute phase response and unlike ESR is not elevated due to other causes. It has a rapid response time and will rise within two hours of acute insult (surgery, infection, etc.). CRP has a short half life (8 hours) and should peak and begin decreasing within 48 hours if no other inflammatory event occurs. It's catabolism is not affected by the type of inflammation.

CRP Reference Range

Adult: less than 8 mg/L

Up to 1 month: less than 6 mg/L

Most patients (90%) without organic disease have CRP levels less than 3mg/L and 99% have levels less than 10mg/L. Neonates are unable to induce CRP synthesis to the same extent and the neonatal reference range is lower.

Slightly higher CRP levels may be found in pregnancy, but any increase is usually within the reference range quoted.

The problem is, as individuals, we don't usually know what our normal is as it's not a test that is done when you don't have anything wrong. Some people's are a lot lower normally than the averages stated.

[Telian]

Hi Jules, DL has gone into much more detail from an older study but in a nutshell:

CRP - normal levels are below 3.00mg/L

ESR - normal range for men is 0-22mm/hr

- normal range for women is 0-29mm/hr

These are a guide only.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends on you and there isn't a set answer.

The usual normal range is from 1 to 20 for ESR but that was worked out for an entire population of 10s of thousands. My personal normal ESR is in low single figures - when it is in double figures there is something going on. OTOH, for someone whose normal is upper teens, it needs to be in the 20s to show much. So you do need to know your own reference range.

CRP varies less and it depend on your lab - they should always quote their range in brackets after the result.

[jules1955]

Thank you all ! I will have to check with GP and compare all my tests, nothing showed in mine before diagnosis tho.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, my personal high ESR is still within the normal range. I normally coast on about 4 but when I was in the throes of GCA going ballistic and my eyes shutting down, it was 16.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Snap - exactly the same figures for me!!!!

[SnazzyD in reply to PMRpro]

The docs will not recognise it as raised. When I suggest it, I get ‘that look’.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Lucky me then - Christian Dejaco doesn't take that attitude! The trouble is I suppose that most doctors/patients don't actually know what their personal normal levels are. And the average doctor doesn't understand what a normal range is...

[Grants148]

I have never been offered these tests,but thank you Dorset Lady for all the information you have posted.

[alvertta in reply to Grants148]

These are in my bi weekly blood tests.