I have a pretty high C-Reactive Protien Level what could it be?
I have a negative Rheumatoid Factor, Negative ASA Assay, and was told due to my ‘quite high’ C-Reactive Protien (612 when the normal is 0.75 or below). I was told I could have Rheumatoid Arthritis, that is RF Negative? Or a heart attack? I really don’t know, but it’s bothering me.
I do know that a high ESR (or Sed rate) and C-reactive protien are both indicators of ‘inflammation in the body’. But they are generally not specifc. Like saying.. oh, the inflammation is in your joints, or your heart, or your liver.
So, I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about this, and if they do, will you let me know?
WBC 11.6 (normal is below 11), ESR 54 (normal is below 26), Calcium 8.4 (range is 8.8-10.2), BUN 5 (8-20 range), Albumin 3.3 (3.5-4.8 range), Globulin 4.3 (2.3-3.5 range is normal). Those were all the abnormal test results. I hope this helps you!
I have been diagonsed with Fibromyalgia for the last 11 years… so all this inflammation is really off the wall. I had heard that it was considered heart if it was below 50, and that above that, it was considered an acute inflammation of ‘that type’ of disease… lupus, rheumatoid Arthritis, or whatever..
oops I typo’d.. 6.12.. I forgot to put that decimal place in there.. which makes this a radically diff blood results. Sorry for the error.
Your test results and case history seem to indicate either an infection or seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, just like myself.
20% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis never develop a positive Rheumatoid factor (RF). Their condition is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, when in fact they suffer from seronegative rheumatoid arthrits.
Rheumatic diseases are the result of a defective gene and collagen inflammation, often from a chronic infection. Collagen is present throughout the body, from the eyes, skin and joints to the heart. Hence, the multiplicity of symptoms, depending on the location of the most affected internal organs or body parts.
I have had seronegative rheumatoid arthritis for more than 27 years. The telling signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are the following:
- Joint pain in the feet (or cracking ankles) in the early 20’s or late teens;
- Fatigue, especially after a moderate exercise like a 30 minute walk;
- Blood test showing a negative or low level of Rheumatoid Factor (RF);
- Joint deformities of the fingers, after a few years, a specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Consecutive X-Rays, over several years, showing bone erosion, a consequence of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Generalized arthritis, involving the whole body;
- Blood tests showing elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Sedimentation rate (ESR).
NSAIDs like Voltaren, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, acetaminophen like Tylenol, and codeine are all used to control inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis.
Regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming is also helpful for most patients. Make sure that you are not overweight as carrying too much weight can only increase the pain of arthritis in the supporting joints of the hips, knees, ankles and feet.
For any form of arthritis, you should consult an orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to better diagnose the type of arthritis from which you suffer.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at http://www.aaos.org maintains a public online directory where you can find the address and phone number of orthopaedists who belong to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Orthopaedists are listed by geographic location and family name, inside the USA and in most countries.
The membership directory of the AAOS is located at:
http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
Lyme disease could be a possibility. Ask your doctor to test you for the bacteria causing Lyme disease.
Are there any other cases of arthritis or rheumatic diseases among your relatives? Chronic forms of arthritis are usually prevalent in families where a defective gene is passed on by parents to their children.
There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The good news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases.
Antibiotics are now used to achieve full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For more info, please join the antibio group at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/antibio
Filed under: Inflammation in the body
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I have been taught when this is high it is more indicative of a heart problem. I would have a cardiologist check you out to be sure….GL!
References :
R.N.
Do you know what your ESR is?
I’ll check back in case you post more info.
Are you having any symptoms? I’m assuming so or likely you wouldn’t have had the tests.
A little more info could help here without me writing a novel on inflammatory diseases!
To answer your question about RF, it is an antibody against the IgG (another antibody). Being RF negative does not rule out disease.
References :
Your test results and case history seem to indicate either an infection or seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, just like myself.
20% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis never develop a positive Rheumatoid factor (RF). Their condition is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, when in fact they suffer from seronegative rheumatoid arthrits.
Rheumatic diseases are the result of a defective gene and collagen inflammation, often from a chronic infection. Collagen is present throughout the body, from the eyes, skin and joints to the heart. Hence, the multiplicity of symptoms, depending on the location of the most affected internal organs or body parts.
I have had seronegative rheumatoid arthritis for more than 27 years. The telling signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are the following:
- Joint pain in the feet (or cracking ankles) in the early 20’s or late teens;
- Fatigue, especially after a moderate exercise like a 30 minute walk;
- Blood test showing a negative or low level of Rheumatoid Factor (RF);
- Joint deformities of the fingers, after a few years, a specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Consecutive X-Rays, over several years, showing bone erosion, a consequence of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Generalized arthritis, involving the whole body;
- Blood tests showing elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Sedimentation rate (ESR).
NSAIDs like Voltaren, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, acetaminophen like Tylenol, and codeine are all used to control inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis.
Regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming is also helpful for most patients. Make sure that you are not overweight as carrying too much weight can only increase the pain of arthritis in the supporting joints of the hips, knees, ankles and feet.
For any form of arthritis, you should consult an orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to better diagnose the type of arthritis from which you suffer.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at http://www.aaos.org maintains a public online directory where you can find the address and phone number of orthopaedists who belong to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Orthopaedists are listed by geographic location and family name, inside the USA and in most countries.
The membership directory of the AAOS is located at:
http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
Lyme disease could be a possibility. Ask your doctor to test you for the bacteria causing Lyme disease.
Are there any other cases of arthritis or rheumatic diseases among your relatives? Chronic forms of arthritis are usually prevalent in families where a defective gene is passed on by parents to their children.
There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The good news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases.
Antibiotics are now used to achieve full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For more info, please join the antibio group at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/antibio
References :