What’s the score?: My bloods yesterday tell me my... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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What’s the score?

Mervetheswerve profile image
6 Replies

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?

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Mervetheswerve profile image
Mervetheswerve
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6 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk 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 profile image
Mervetheswerve in reply toDorsetLady

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 profile image
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 profile image
PMRproAmbassador

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 profile image
Mervetheswerve in reply toPMRpro

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 profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMervetheswerve

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.

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