what is a CRP rate in the blood ?asked my doctor and she said that they just go by theESR rate at the moment mine is 20

[lynabelle]

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi lynabelle

CRP (C-reactive protein) is often considered to be a more specific marker of inflammation than the ESR. My rheumy always carried out both tests. Your ESR reading is very good at 20, so well done

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Lynabelle,

ESR should be your age plus 10 divided by 2, so if you are fifty then it should be below 30. CRP should be lower than 6 normally. However, the steroids keep it artificially low so it's a bit hit and miss, and they tend to go up if you have an infection of any sort. Hope this helps, Dorset Lady.

[bowler in reply to DorsetLady]

an ESR should be between 3 and 15 anything over that would show an asterisk alert on a blood test, however that wouldn't always mean there was inflamation as numbers can differ in each individual, with no ill effects.

When I'm having a flare of GCA my ESR can be as low as 25

I'm 68 years old, so if I divided my ESR by my age it would be around 40 ?? I was diagnosed with GCA with that rate.

[Sue8]

I was told CRP below 8 but 10 is acceptable, mine is 25. My doc's don't do ESR

[Annodomini]

Mine does both. By that criterion, my ESR should be 41, Really? However, my GP and my doctor sister both agree that CRP is the more important measure.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Anno

My rheumy is obviously in tune with both your GP and sister doctor then as he also believed the CRP to be a more specific marker of inflammation - with a normal reading being 5 and under.

[iforget]

CRP is considered a more definitive marker and under 10 is considered 'normal'.

ESR is indicative of inflammation but is not as specific. Normal levels are between 3-15 mm/h

In otherwise healthy individuals it is generally used as baseline marker to gauge inflammation in PMR.

Whatever system your doctors are using the most important thing seems to be consistency in approach, that way any anomalies should be spotted.

I have been doing my homework (grins) and I get print out copies of all my blood work.

Unfortunately for me they cannot use ESR as a gauge with PMR as my levels have not been below the mid 70's for the past ten years due to co-existing conditions.