What’s the score?

[Mervetheswerve]

My bloods yesterday tell me my CRP is 1.4 down from 4.1 five weeks ago. My Dr says anything under 5 is normal. I’m reducing to 7mg/day from today. I have no PMR symptoms. Can someone tell me, what does all this mean?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Just shows the Pred is doing what it should - keeping any inflammation under control.

Couple of months ago you said you’d had a heavy cold , so as many things can raise inflammation including viruses , perhaps that’s why markers were higher at last reading.

[Mervetheswerve in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes, possibly. As I’ve just said to PMR Pro, I don’t find the CRP indicator particularly helpful but will be sticking to the pred plan anyway. M

[herdysheep]

I find it helpful to keep a note of my blood results so that I can compare with how I feel and see what is normal for me, patterns according to how I feel etc.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It means that the pred dose you are on is managing all the inflammation you have.

Your GP may think that "anything under 5 is normal" but that is as a general statement for a large population. It may not be normal for you as an individual member of that large population, Since you have been able to get well below 5 now, and it may get lower, if it rises again without any other reason such as a cold or some other infection, then it is important to keep an eye on it and repeat it a week or two later to see if there is a rising trend over time - because that could be signalling the onset of a flare, the inflammation not being fully managed by the current dose of pred and building up. A single raised CRP at any level without accompanying symptoms should never result in a kneejerk increase in the pred dose - watchful waiting and monitoring is called for there. If there are any symptoms of PMR or GCA than it is a different matter altogether.

[Mervetheswerve in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR Pro. I’m not really sure what the relevance of CRP is but I’ll keep testing and, of course, stick to the taper programme. MtS

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mervetheswerve]

To show if there is a source of inflammation in the body - jsut it doesn't say exactly WHERE. Which is why you don't kneejerk react to it being raised without PMR/GCA symptoms but monitor it. It, like ESR, is more relevant as a long term monitoring measure. One-off levels are less reliable.