CRP Levels

vbell1982
vbell1982 Member Posts: 10
edited 23. Feb 2017, 14:42 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello,

Wondering if any one can advise.....I was diagnosed with inflamattory arthritis in November and have been on sulfasalazine since then. On my regular blood tests the CRP level has been hovering around 30. However, Specialist Nurse has just called to say that the level has gone up to 54 on my blood test 14/02 and she wants to see me next Thursday. Is this level really high? Or dangerous? Not sure what this means....

thank you for any advice.

V

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,635
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi V
    A CRP is a non-specific test which can indicate if there is inflammation anywhere in the body by checking how much CRP is present in your blood. CRP is produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream. Elevated levels show that there is inflammation. Because yours has been hovering around 30 and has now risen it means that you have inflammation present. I would think the nurse will want to discuss this with you and review things, can you ring her and ask? Let us know how you get on
    Best Wishes
    Sharon
  • vbell1982
    vbell1982 Member Posts: 10
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for the explanation. She is going to call me on Monday and I am going to go and see her next Thursday. I didn't know if that level of CRP was pretty normal for arthritis, especially when have been taking sulfasalazine for over 12 weeks. I did make the mistake of googling it and managed to scare myself as most of the information came back about heart disease and heart attacks!

    thanks again.

    V
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I can understand your concern, if this malarkey is new to you it must seem very bewildering (and it is). In my early days my CRP and ESR (another measure of inflammation) were over 100 but, thanks to finding the right combination of medications they reduced; now they are too small to measure (which means the meds are working) and that is a good thing. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • vbell1982
    vbell1982 Member Posts: 10
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you again for the information.

    They have upped by Sulfasalazine to 1500mg twice per day now and are adding Hydroxychloroquine in 2 weeks time. They also gave me a systemic steroid injection which will hopefully give some relief. They did explain today about the stronger drugs but as we don't have children yet they don't want to start me on those.

    Found today really helpful. I think a lot of it was not really understanding the problem or long term plan

Categories