Sed Rate & CRP??

[Mehita]

We just got L's lab results today and I'm a little confused. Overall, everything was normal except the sed rate and CRP. Sed rate was 30 (n=0-15) and CRP was 13 (n=0-8). When I compared the numbers to previous results, they have both gone up.

As of today, he feels fine, he's happy, BM's are normal and he hasn't said a word about stomach aches or cramping in quite awhile. He does have a pretty nasty head cold though and the blood was drawn about 3 days after he caught the head cold.

Here's a little history:
Dx Oct 2008 - Sed 33, CRP 21

Oct 2011 - Sed 17, CRP <5 (flaring, started pred)
Nov 2011 - Sed 8, CRP <5
Jan 2012 - Sed 12, CRP <5 (off pred)
Apr 2012 - Sed Error, CRP 7.3
May 2012 - Sed 20, CRP 10.8 (flaring, started pred)
Sep 2012 - Sed 30, CRP 13.8 (head cold @ appt)

My question is can a virus affect these numbers? And should I be concerned that the numbers have gone up?

 

[steve55]

I think its something you should continue to monitor. I see that he is on Omeprazole and also sporadically on Prednisone. These are two drugs that can cause osteoporosis. My suggestion would be to ask for Budesonide rather than Prednisone since it is believed that Budesonide does not make it to the bloodstream in the way that Prednisone does, making it safer on the bones. They are both steroids.

In terms of the Omeprazole, assess whether this drug is really helping his GERD by taking a two week vacation from the drug. Omeprazole is believed to cause the body to grow extra acid producing cells in reaction to the acid inhibition caused by the drug. So the longer your on the drug, the harder it will be to get off it.

 

[DustyKat]

Yes, a virus can affect these readings. If it were me I would wait until the head cold had cleared completely, add a few days to that and then have the bloods repeated. That way you will know one way or the other if it was just a one off due to the viral infection.

Being a lot further down the track to you, and with the kids in remission, I have control over when they have their bloods done so I avoid them being done when they have colds etc. That way I save myself from all out hysteria! :lol:

Dusty. xxx

 

[kimmidwife]

I second dusty with that. Colds can throw the sed rate and crp off. Wait until a weeks after he is better and get it repeated.

 

[Patricia56]

I doubt you need a third opinion but, just in case, I agree completely. The culprit is almost certainly the cold.

Both these labs are non-specific measures of inflammation. They give an estimate of systemic inflammation but don't tell you anything about where the inflammation is coming from or what is causing it.

ESR or Sed Rate can remain elevated for weeks following an injury. Even a bruise can cause this to become elevated. Our doctor says the main reason he runs it is because he can get the results STAT and if the result is really high he knows that this is probably an urgent or emergent situation. Otherwise it's not very useful on it's own.

CrP is a measure of inflammation over the previous 24 hours. While not perfect either (my son's is rarely abnormal even when his CD is flaring) at least it measures inflammation over a short time span. When the inflammation goes away the CrP should drop very quickly - unlike the ESR.

Hope that helps and his cold is gone ASAP.

 

[Mehita]

Geek Alert: I've charted all of Lukas CRP and Sed Rate results for the last four years and totally see what you mean about the CRP dropping quickly, Patricia56. Unfortunately, after a couple of vomiting spells this past month, L's CRP went from 13.8 up to 23.8 in a month's time, while his Sed Rate dropped a little (from 30 to 27) but is still high for him.

I think he's trending in the wrong direction and has had a couple of vomiting spells this past month. He hadn't had any in almost a year.

Gastro says to see how the week goes as he eases from a liquid diet back to food. It might just be gastroenteritis... but it could be a flare with his stricture causing problems.

Just want to cry

 

[jmckinley]

Agree with all above. Get over the cold and get bloodwork done again. Hugs!

 

[Sascot]

Definately worth getting bloods done again when he is well. Sorry to hear about the vomitting - hope it isn't the stricture causing problems!