High CRP blood test (C-Reactive Protein)

[JustLaura]

Hi

I have high (20-ish ) CRP blood test results over 4 months. Normal range is 0-5.

GP wants to see me face-to-face.

Is there treatment for high CRP?

What health issues can cause this?

Thanks

When I had sepsis my CRP was 100, I think it's an infection marker

Inflammation marker, could be anything related to any kind of inflammation

Thanks @violetcuriosity do you know your CRP normally?

Same here I had sepsis and it was sky high they said.

They didn't know what was wrong at that point. Try not to worry too much, hope it works out ok.

Kidney infection and mine was over 450. IV antibiotics and removal of defunct kidney sorted it. Hope you feel better soon, OP.

Thanks @Swollenandgrouchy so could say a cold or eczema or hayfever cause it to be that high? Panicking a bit as read at risk of heart attack/stroke if over 5.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases when there's inflammation in the body.

CRP is not treated as such - there will be investigations as to what is causing the CRP to rise and that will be treated.

I think mine is below 5 normally! I was really poorly but didn't need to go to hospital as was already 24 hours into high dose antibiotics just needed to have bloods taken as soon as I got those ones back to check it was going down. I hope you're ok x

Thanks @ShrubRose

Investigations as in blood tests?

Hopefully they will give me antibiotics then @violetcuriosity . So nervous.

I had a blood test a few years ago that showed mine was over 50. The next day i found myself with a bloody tooth infection so my bloods showed it before I even knew! A quick trip to the dentist soon sorted it out.

20 isn't that high really in an otherwise healthy person. They may want to monitor that's it's not going up. Any minor UTI or chest infection recently? To be honest it could be anything, you may never know.

I had food poisoning and my CRP was 40

I would expect blood tests and physical exam. GP will take it from there depending on what is found.
Hope resolves easily for you, OP. Good that you're going in.

In my experience, CRP is raised, but not very, in chronic illnesses. When my DD has been very poorly with Crohn's, her CRP is between 10 and 20.

It suggests a chronic but not necessarily an acute illness.

Thanks @Hairyfairy01

I seem to have had colds on/off this year. Definitely more than usual. Blood tests were 'off' on a few things 4 months ago which eventually went into 'normal' or close to normal - and now keep getting retested for CRP but it's increasing by 2-3 points each time BUT I did have a bad cold on the day of my last blood test.

Just trying to gauge what the GP is going to say which I know is a bit fruitless but just want to be prepared. I've googled too much.

This is interesting because mine has been over 10 for at least a year and the GP doesn’t seem bothered. Perhaps I should be pushing for further investigation 🤷🏼‍♀️

@JustLaura I've googled too much.

Yes, good idea to give Dr. Google a day off. 😊

My CRP was 197 - I had an auto immune condition. 60mg steroids a day brought it down eventually.

Thanks @Backtothe90ties that's odd isn't it. Mine started off at 10. I have read some labs are only concerned if it's 8 or above. Perhaps query it with your GP or email them asking for a retest?

Thanks @neilyoungismyhero do you mind me asking what autoimmune disease? I did wonder if I have a type of arthritis that flares up.

5 is normal. A normal crp is from 0-11

I have autoimmunity - Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but my CRP has always been below 1.0, but other autoimmune diseases could make it rise. Before Xmas my CRP rocketed up because I had inflammation in my bowel. Once that was dealt with (I had to eliminate gluten) it fell back to normal.

Can I ask, how do you all know your CRP score? I've had it done through Thriva but it's expensive and I wouldn't do it regularly. Is it generally monitored for an underlying health condition ?

Thanks @FrancisSeaton mine is always out of the range. The range for the lab my GP uses is 0-5. Mine is in the 20's.