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C reactive protein level up-to worry or not to worry?

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Posted 8/19/2010 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all-I had an appt with the Integrative Doc today, and he had my labs from Friday to go over. He told me my c reactive protein level was up-14.5 to be exact. (and he said normal is under 5, most people are at 1 or 2)

Should I be worried about this? He said this is the first time it has been elevated like this, though I haven't been going to him for very long, and I was on pred the last time I had bloodwork done for him. But I just saw the GI a couple of weeks ago and he didn't even mention it.

UC is doing fine. But my joints are killing me-definitely some inflammation going on there. It is the same kind of thing that happened to me last time when I came off pred, only this time it seemed delayed a bit. My joint pain really just started maybe a week ago. Also, I was sick last week. IDK if those things have to do with it or not, but he seemed concerned and now I am wondering if I should be too.

Input?

Thank you!
Posted 8/19/2010 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Elevated c- reactive protein test & ESR(ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED) both just tell us that there is inflammation in body. i had both these tests done some time back when i was flaring and they were elevated - when i asked my GI he just told me that this tells us what we already know that you are flaring & he didnt pay much attention to it.
Posted 8/19/2010 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
i know it is very strange

i just picked my test results 5 days ago and levels of c- reactive protein test & ESR were something rare, doctor told me that is your worst results ever . now i have terrible pain in both hips and back and talking a lot of painkillers, you can say that i cant imagine my life without those . i think both c-protein and ESR measure the level of inflammation in the body especially in joints ....


results were

c-protein 127.37 normal (0-5)
ESR 80 (3-12)


i think after that you shouldn't ever be afraid of your level

at least i still alive ....
Posted 8/19/2010 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
C reactive protien tests can give both false positive and false negatives...while in the midst of my worst flare in the emergency room I was testing normal; my cat scans also came back normal but when I was scoped the next morning my entire colon was inflammed with uc...
Posted 8/19/2010 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
What other enzyme tests did the doc do and what are those levels?

q
Posted 8/19/2010 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Yes both C-rp and ESR blood tests do give a marker of inflammation that is generlized throughout the body.  While they give a doc a general idea of whats going on they are not very specific.  So in the end most docs order to get a baseline of how you run in terms of your inflammation but I wouldn't worry about it too much.  I am sure he will have retested in the near future and compare.  My C-rp is usually 1 or two and my ESR is usally below 10 but I have really bad inflammation in my colon.  So in the end it gives an idea but please try not to worry. 

MyUC

Posted 8/19/2010 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Did you have the regular CRP test done or the HS CRP?
Posted 8/19/2010 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
In referance to the last post CRP HS, HS stands for high sensitivity.  Just to help.

MyUC

Posted 8/20/2010 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry for the delay in getting back to this-and thank you for the responses, everyone.

@Change is possible-wow-those are high numbers!! That definitely puts things into perspective for me. And I am sorry you are in so much pain.

@Q-I have no clue what other enzymes, if any, he had checked. I didn't even know he was checking for the CRP until he told me my levels were high. I'll have to email him about my other results.

@Krissy-I am pretty sure it was not the HS, but I think he ordered that for my next labs, so we'll see.

@MyUC, bbc and zamba-thank you for the reassurance. This is the first time this has ever been discussed with me, believe it or not, and his concern translated into my being concerned. Like I said, my UC is currently doing very well. But my joints are not, so maybe that is the culprit.

Thank you again!
Posted 8/20/2010 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Get his office to send you out a copy of ALL the blood test and c-scope pathology results...good for your records and personal research.

The CRP isn't anything to be concerned about at this point...especially if other enzymes are in the normal range. My doc doesn't use that as any factor for diagnosis....just to see if it's up or down as part of a package.

q
Posted 8/20/2010 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
You don't have a cold or something like that? I had pneumonia with some fever (maybe a very mild flare too) and have had over 160 CRP (their specific test maxed out at 160). Now I'm down to 60 though and feeling all better. Then again, I did not feel that bad with over 160 either.
Posted 8/20/2010 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Q-I will get copies of my results. I should do that every time I have labs done anyway. And that makes complete sense about it being part of a package.

chcl-I was sick last week when I had the blood draw-nothing major, but as soon as we came back from vacation, my sinuses started acting up again and I had a bit of a cough. No fever, but definitely something going on. I'm so sorry you had pneumonia! Gla you are feeling better-that stinks!
Posted 8/20/2010 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Probably indication that your immune system is attacking your joints.
Posted 3/29/2016 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
One of the newer/better tests specifically for GI inflammation is Fecal Calprotectin.

Here in my part of Canada it is not covered by Medicare. It is about $120 or so.

I have asked my GI doc to test anyway, and he says he will test it at 6 months post flare (just tapering off Prednisone for Pancolitis).

He says it's a good test. I like that it sounds specific. (My ESR and CRP are always 'okay', even if I'm passing blood hourly in the Emergency Room.)
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