ESRorCRP

[Robinsnest72]

I have read a lot on this but cannot remember which was the most important. I remember reading in Europe from some individuals they stopped doing the one test. Can you enlighten me again please.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Some hospitals/GP have decided, in their wisdom, to no longer offer ESR. But it is a mistake - everyone is different and there are many patients where one or the other reflects their disease process better. My CRP has only once been out of range - on a day where I also happened to have a severe episode of atrial fibrillation (not recognised at the time). My ESR has been out of range a couple of times and has run at the top of normal range several times - where my personal normal is low single figures. There is medical literature that suggest ESR may be valuable in PMR even if it isn't in other things.

[Hidden]

When we lived in Wales GP’s did not do ESR but when you had the bloods at Outpatient Clinic they did an ESR - so l was never over familiar with what my ESR was, now we live in England they do both but for me it’s the CRP l rely on as that was the most familiar to me.

[Louisepenygraig]

My CRP has always been in the normal range - in fact I don't know what it is - but my ESR was high initially and seems to be a reasonable indicator of how I'm doing.

[SheffieldJane]

CRP is of interst to my Rheumatologist .

[Navion]

My rheumatologist does both. But my CRP was the one that was way high. My ESR was only somewhat above normal.

[prunus]

My rheumatologist has always wanted both.

[SusanEleven]

My rheumatologist has only ever done CRP. In my case it has been a good indicator.

[Myosotis]

I was in hospital yesterday with a minor flare of GCA. They weren't convinced. Then the blood test results came back with normal CRP but raised ESR, so they acted on the ESR result. It was my ESR that was high when I first had GCA. For me it seems to be the better indicator.

[Robinsnest72]

With me when my PMR was diagnosed both were extremely high. They are normal now and I am reducing to 7mg pred after a year.