Hi everyone. Was just wondering if the CPR tests have different reference ranges in UK as opposed to US. I live in US and it says the reference range to be normal is under .3
Notice the . in .3 So when I read some previous posts that say that normal is under 5 that is a far cry from 0.3
???????
Hi,
This might explain a little better, but different laboratories do have different reference ranges - (from a UK based site) -
“ CRP production is part of the nonspecific acute-phase response to inflammation, infection, and tissue damage. CRP values are non specific and can never be diagnostic on their own, but can contribute to the evaluation of the inflammatory response, including the cardiovascular disease risk of an individual patient. Furthermore, since trace element levels in the serum may change during inflammation, CRP levels are of relevance in the evaluation of the micronutrient status of patients with an on-going inflammatory response.
Normal baseline serum concentrations of CRP are less than 0.3 mg/dL [7], but hepatic synthesis is rapidly induced in the acute-phase response. CRP concentrations are often in the range of 5.0-10.0 mg/dL and may reach 500 mg/dL . The half-life of CRP is approximately 19 hours [8] and is constant under all conditions of health and disease, so the rate of synthesis of CRP is the sole determinant of its serum concentration, reflecting the intensity of the pathological processes stimulating its production.CRP production is part of the nonspecific acute-phase response to inflammation, infection, and tissue damage. CRP values are non specific and can never be diagnostic on their own, but can contribute to the evaluation of the inflammatory response, including the cardiovascular disease risk of an individual patient. Furthermore, since trace element levels in the serum may change during inflammation, CRP levels are of relevance in the evaluation of the micronutrient status of patients with an on-going inflammatory response.
Normal baseline serum concentrations of CRP are less than 0.3 mg/dL [7], but hepatic synthesis is rapidly induced in the acute-phase response. CRP concentrations are often in the range of 5.0-10.0 mg/dL and may reach 500 mg/dL . The half-life of CRP is approximately 19 hours [8] and is constant under all conditions of health and disease, so the rate of synthesis of CRP is the sole determinant of its serum concentration, reflecting the intensity of the pathological processes stimulating its production.”
Thank you so much for the information. The reason I also write is because my Rheumy said that I would not be able to start tapering for my PMR until it is normal meaning under >0.3 I am on 15 and wanted to taper as I have been on it for 3 months now.
Makes sure you ask for a printout of the results as they usually have the reference range. To be honest it sounds like a sensible Dr waiting for the inflammation to die down usually they rush you off them. S/he doesn't know your "natural level" yet so what you are at now could be low for you. 15mg is a low dose in the grand scheme of things.
Yes you are right. It says reference range is < 0.3 is normal
I am feeling pretty good and no terrible pains or stiffness.
You should ask if you can taper using a dead slow method. Dorset lady's simple taper might help you. You can scroll down to pinned post, click see all and it in that list.
Got it. Mucho Gracias 
Oh no I am not from Mexico. New Mexico.
We are in Alto/ Ruidoso quite often. Are you nearby? I have a good GP there who handles my basic anticoagulation, and understands lupus and a clotting component of it that I have called APS.
But I don’t know if any good Rheumatoligists. Could you recommend one?
My Rheumatologist is not great. She does not give you much time and so I would not recommend her. She is just the only one my insurance would cover. So do you have PMR or Lupus?
Sorry, just seeing this-
I have Lupus/ Anti Phospholipid Syndrome and a lupus Vasculitis and a very high rheumatoid factor with a “poly arthritis something or other. “ it involves muscles. It’s not PMR. It’s also Vasculitis but not large vessel.
It’s like I almost have PMR, and I sort of have GCA.
I’m on high dose steroids for the moment, so this lovely bunch of ladies have taken me under wing and are educating me top to bottom on all things prednisone.
What an array of issues! I hope they are able to get this all under control for you. Keep the faith. ✝
Our usual advice regarding tapering is usually to concentrate on the symptoms, or rather the lack of them!
Doctors, on the other hand seem to rely more on the blood markers which can be affected by other things, and for quite a few patients seem to have no relationship to their illness. In fact no raised figures when they obviously have PMR or GCA.
How do feel in yourself? That really is the criteria for tapering. .
Thank you so much DorsetLady..........I am feeling ready to taper but will wait a bit longer and see if CRP comes down but it is only at 1.2 now!
If only I was there 3 years in. Go by how you feel as DL says. 1.3 could be your normal and you may not go lower.
Sure will. Thanks so much for your time and insight.
My CRP has never been lower than 9. I've been told that anything 10 and under is normal. I'm in a Canadian province. I have no idea what the number specifically refers to but evidently our labs use a different scale.
Hi, as I understand it each lab will usually have its own reference ranges. That said, WebMD a US site provides these rule of thumb ranges. CRP. But you should check the ref ranges of the lab that tested your blood.
CRP level of lower than 1.0 mg/L -- low risk of CVD (heart disease)
CRP level of 1.0 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L -- moderate risk of CVD
CRP level of more than 3.0 mg/L -- high risk of CVD
webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/c-r...
Wow.........that says a lot with HIGH risk of cardiac events and anything over 3!!!!! How on earth? I could not turn over in bed nor get up out of a chair at 10 CRP......and people on here say they have been in the 100's.
By the way I like your name. It brings to mind all kinds of colorful images. Ha
😂😂😂. Hopefully the pred brings it down to lower levels and the CRP is one of the things they use generally for Cvd I believe. My highest was 52 I think and it's 1.6 now but it took a while because I reduced pred too fast initially. Someone today had theirs in100s but felt ok. I am sure it was 400s. Sometimes the number doesn't reflect the pain and stiffness.
In the US the reading usually is in milligrams/decilitre while in U.K. it is in milligrams/litre so the US figures are a tenth of U.K. ie in U.K. 3 is equivalent to .3 in the US. Normally under 5/.5 is OK, although I have noticed normal has nor reduced to 3/.3 on my latest printout.
Oh well that makes sense. I guess they keep reducing it do be accurate. As I mentioned to Dorsetlady......I am at 1.2 CRP right now. Hope I can get it to under .3
Thanks for finding this out.
This discussion about CRP levels is a bit confusing. I am in Canada and this is what is written on the lab report when I get my bloods done:
"The CRP method used is classified as a high
sensitivity CRP method (hsCRP) based on
analytical parameters.
For Monitoring Infection
CRP levels <8mg/L are usually not associated with
infections."
When I was first diagnosed with PMR I was in very bad shape, almost totally incapacitated by pain, and my CRP level was at 144.
The units make a difference - the amount in 100ml or the amount in a litre makes a 10-fold difference: up to 1mg/100ml or up to 10mg/litre for example.
There is also a small difference between laboratories depending on their own techniques and you always need to check the values they quote, usually in brackets after the result.
CRP is often up to 0.5 or 5, others say 0.3 although that is the figure I associate with hs-CRP, high specificity CRP which is associated with cardiovascular problems in otherwise healthy patients. When CRP is being measured for inflammation the value swamps this monitor for heart disease.
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