blood tests

[scooby96]

hi, had blood test results and they’re all abnormal. Speaking to GP on Monday but wondered if anyone knows if a CRP result of 11 indicates polymyalgia?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

CRP is not a test specifically for PMR - it just shows your inflammation levels are abnormal, but not what is causing that inflammation.

However, in conjunction with symptoms it adds to the evidence that your PMR is back and alive and kicking…

[scooby96 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for the reply, feeling rubbish & just want to get something sorted. When I was first diagnosed a couple of years ago I had no idea really that PMR could affect your life so much

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to scooby96]

If your PMR is well controlled it shouldn’t make your life that miserable - and there’s nothing to say that this time around it will be the same.

But have to say that being off Pred in 6 months is highly unusual -so that may be where your previous issues lie.

[piglette]

When I was tested for PMR my CRP was 125. Some people never have raised inflammation markers. CRP can just be a possible indicator of PMR. When you say all your blood tests were abnormal, what others were not normal?

[scooby96]

hi, other tests were erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver function, crp and electrolytes and creatinine. all say abnormal but expected

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scooby96]

Why expected? I'd want reasoning for that.

[scooby96 in reply to PMRpro]

I’m on Ramapril and amlodopine so maybe partly to do with that and and suspected PMR.

[random901]

Hi scooby96. I'm on amlodopine too plus other meds for cardio and BP problems. I changed the ramapril for valsartan with better results. Could you change one of your medications?

[Ozziedays]

I expect everyone will be different but my ‘normal’ CRP is <5; at diagnosis and flares it ranged from 35-61.

[scooby96 in reply to Ozziedays]

Hi, it seems my result of 11 isn't very high at all

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to scooby96]

Slightly - but only just - see this

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Ozziedays]

I think it’s very individual, what’s normal for me could be quite different in someone else.

[AtopicGuy]

Please quote the unit of measurement for your "11". CRP is usually measured in mg/L, but there is no guarantee.

[scooby96 in reply to AtopicGuy]

Hi yes it is mg/l. ESR is 29 mm/hr

[AtopicGuy]

A CRP of 11mg/L is mildly elevated for an adult in good health, but for those with certain pre-existing conditions, it might be considered normal. It's important to avoid having CRP tested when one has a head cold or other infection, as these also raise CRP.

[HeronNS]

Sorry to hear your symptoms have recurred. Hope it makes you feel better to know that until the past few months my CRP was always much higher than that, including before diagnosis in 2015 and being told that it was "normal for my age", although I was practically crippled with pain. As the others have said, CRP is non-specific and can only indicate there's active inflammation somewhere in the body. Symptoms and rapid response to low-moderate dose of pred seem to be the only definitive diagnostic tests.

In your shoes I'd be tempted to try the low-dose pred test, although probably not at the same time as changing one of your medications as that would muddy the waters. Good luck!

[scooby96 in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you HeronNS I think that’s good advice

[scooby96]

Had telephone consult with GP and he has confirmed PMR is back. Starting on 20mg prednisone tomorrow morning with AA also which he insists I need. I told him about the info I had read on here and he agrees I need to taper much more slowly this time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scooby96]

I would start the pred first and wait a few weeks before starting the AA - THEN you stand a change of recognising which might be causing any side effects, Starting both at the same time means you haven't a clue!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to scooby96]

Agree with PMRpro on starting tablets at different times. ..and yes a more gentle taper this time around...