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SED rate and CRP ?

Zeppy321

Zeppy321

So I had blood work and scopes done a few days ago. My SED rate is 37 and my CRP is 10.0 and says high sensitivity thats what I got from the see your charts site - What does it mean ? That's what I really would like to know. No results from my scopes are showing up yet . This is a new GI I'm seeing and after the scopes he said my terminal ileum was so narrow he couldn't even get through it with a pediatric scope. He's think I will probably need surgery but want to see the MRI results and call me next week. I am in lots of pain right now, cramping and lots of loud gurgling noises coming from my tummy.Now if i Have to go to the ER would I go to my hometown one about 4 min away or go to the ER where I am now seeing this specialist an hour away ? I don't know what to do again ! AGHHHH this disease sucks !:cry:
 
seebee

seebee

Sorry for all that you are going through.
Why don't you call your new GI and ask him about the blood results and the question about the ER (hope you won't need to go).
 
R

RickUK

In regards to CRP, here in UK 5 is normal. Mine came back 16, so effectively over 3 times normal level... yet it was classed as "barely" raised. As ConnectheDots said, have a calprotectin test. Very highly regarded in terms of finding inflammation in the gut, despite the CRP of 16, my calprotectin came back way way way above the "abnormal" cut off.

To tell the truth my GI isn't keen on CRP tests as apparently they can be raised from inflammation anywhere in the body, calprotectin is specifically the gut only, via a stool sample
 
Tesscorm

Tesscorm

Moderator
Staff member
My son's GI likes CRP to be under 5 and ESR under 10. CRP and ESR do show inflammation anywhere in the body, not necessarily only intestinal inflammation. However, the fact that your GI wasn't able to get through your TI does seem to imply that your CRP and ESR are indicating intestinal inflammation. When inflammation is present, the intestinal walls swell and cause narrowing of the lumen (the space inside the intestines), however, this could also be caused by scar tissue.

Also, just FYI CRP reacts very quickly to inflammation or treatment, in either case, you may see significant changes within days. ESR, on the other hand, takes much longer to reflect change in your body and could remain elevated for a time period even after taking medication. Also, re levels, as RickUK mentioned, CRP (not sure about ESR) can move drastically - my son's CRP, at dx, was over 150; after one week of IV Flagyl, it was down to 4.

Fecal calprotectin is a stool test that can indicate intestinal inflammation. My son's GI doesn't feel it is as accurate for inflammation in the small intestine but, I've heard of many others whose GIs have used the test for small intestine inflammation??

I hope you're feeling a bit better today. :ghug:
 
I

Ihurt

Location
United States
I was told the CRP and Sed rates can be elevated for any reason that involves inflammation or even infection anywhere in the body. I also have read that some people who are very sick and have lots of inflammation can have normal CRP and SED rate levels. Go figure on that one. I do not think they are very reliable in terms of finding active disease. To many variables there.
 
Tesscorm

Tesscorm

Moderator
Staff member
Yes you're right. But, while it's not an exact indicator of intestinal inflammation, it is one piece of the puzzle. :) Over time, you will learn which indicators are reliable for you.

For my son, his CRP does seem to respond to inflammation and treatment. However, when he has been stable with no changes to his meds, etc. but had dislocated a shoulder, I attributed the rising CRP and ESR to the shoulder injury, not crohns. If CRP and/or ESR seem to consistently reflect your inflammation, you still have to take the number in context with any other injury/infection.

I've also found HGB is a decent indicator for my son... when inflammation is active, his HGB is low(er), once started on remicade, his HGB has consistently showed improvement. (But, again, what works for one person, isn't necessarily going to work well with another. :ybatty:)
 
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