CRP / ESR - the % that ‘never raise’

[Mai45]

Sorry to raise an old topic that I know PMRPro in particular has answered many times, but I haven’t been able to find the link I need in a search

I’m one of the approx? 20% whose CRP/ESR didn’t raise much at all. My persistently normal range results meant that even though all other indicators were ticked for ages whilst my pain increased and I was genuinely frightened I was crippled for life, I had no Prednisolone for the first 6 months. (Oh, the magical relief after that first dose...) There was just one small spike, in October 2016, when the ESR registered 27mm/hr and the CRP 13mg/L. Hardly earth shattering.

On my last visit my GP had a colleague with her and described me as “having appeared to develop PMR in 2016...”. I’m seeing her again on Monday, and want to ask why she used the term ‘appeared’, as if she’s still not convinced. I’m pretty sure the reason will be the normal range blood test results.

I know that many of us develop PMR without raised levels, but wondered if there is any link on this site to the research that is based on? Thanks for reading

[PMRpro Ambassador]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

clinexprheumatol.org/articl...

should include the info you are looking for in the references

PS - bear in mind that the levels may be raised for that particular patient but still remain within the normal range for a large population which is the range that covers 95% of the patients. My normal ESR is low single figures but ran at 16-18 for some time during a major flare but was never noted as it was still well under 20. It has once reached the dizzy heights of 30+!!!!!

[Mai45 in reply to PMRpro]

30+? Impressive!

Thank you very much, that’s exactly what I was looking for

This site is wonderful

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Mai45]

My ESR was 174. Trevor.

[Mai45 in reply to pmrgcavictim]

Well, that makes my dizzy heights of 27 look a bit paltry. I take it you had GCA? I know I was lucky. I do hope things are improving for you now.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Mai45]

Hello Mai45. Thanks for the reply. I started with PMR June 2018, GCA came along July 2018. I went for the full set, silly me. Trevor.

[Mai45 in reply to pmrgcavictim]

That is bad luck. I do hope life is improving now

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Mai45]

On the mend. It's been slow going with the reduction of Pred, but it seems to be the best way though. Down to 10mgs at the moment,9and a half next week. Hope you are doing well. Trevor.

[nuigini in reply to pmrgcavictim]

You beat me by a hair, mine was 169.9. Over the last 6 years I've noted flares if it reaches 9 or higher.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to nuigini]

Thanks for the reply. I hope that was less painful than 174.

[nuigini in reply to pmrgcavictim]

I doubt it. I was totally incapacitated with a body in total meltdown with pain. I ❤️Prednisone.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to nuigini]

Sounds like me. I Didn't believe that level of pain was possible, or survivable. Out of 0 to 10 on the pain scale mine was at least 25. Still here to tell the tale though. Trevor.