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Home > Archive > Lupus Support > January 2005 > Abnormal ESR in lupus and MCTD
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Abnormal ESR in lupus and MCTD
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| johnathon 2005-01-04, 7:12 pm |
| I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus.
Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation
Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it's considered normal for a
figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was
considered \the highest safe level. I'm confused and frightened as no one
seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids - is that really necessary?
Thanks in advance,
D.
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| Hi D,
The normal range for the ESR is listed as 0-20 mm/hr on the listing here. A
sed rate of 22 is only slightly higher than the upper limit of normal, and
would not be cause for concern really. Is there anything else in your blood
results that would prompt the doctor to suggest steriods? Do you have a
sudden worsening of symptoms? My ESR is almost always above the normal
range, but it isn't a problem unless there is something else out of whack as
well.
BJ-Sk.Canada
"johnathon" <johnathon@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus.
> Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation
> Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it's considered normal for a
> figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was
> considered \the highest safe level. I'm confused and frightened as no one
> seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids - is that really
necessary?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> D.
>
>
| |
|
| "johnathon" <johnathon@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus.
> Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation
> Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it's considered normal for a
> figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was
> considered \the highest safe level. I'm confused and frightened as no one
> seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids - is that really
necessary?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> D.
>
Hi D.
An ESR of 22 is rarely noted by most docs. If it repeats, then they may
want to look into it further but i've had ESRs up to 40 and doc just shrugs
and says "it's how much inflammation/pain you have." :P ESRs in the 50s
and above are usually when doctors start reacting and looking for the source
of the problem.
Many things can raise your ESR that may have nothing to do with your
diagnosis at all - such as stress, a cold, allergies, etc. So unless you
have other symptoms that are creating lots of problems for you that you
require steroids for *those* then I wouldn't worry about this very minimal
elevation.
It's important to understand that reference ranges are typically set to pick
up on small anomalies that may be inconsequential. An example, blood
glucose - when my husbands b.g. got above 120, the docs wanted to test him
for diabetes. But every diabetic I've ever talked to worries more about
levels much higher than that - 200s and up. Reference ranges must also
accommodate different genders (women usually have slighltly lower ESRs than
men) and ages (younger = lower - typically) and so on. Another example, the
ANA - probably the most ubiquitous lupus blood test out there - 1:80 is
considered positive. But most doctors won't even notice this or diagnose
until ANAs show up at 1:640 or more. 1:80, 1:160 and 1:320 are often
considered "false positive" or ambiguous. It is important to record these
of course, and to check them regularly. It may be your "normal" to run at
an ESR of 22. That "normal" may be based on your diagnosis or your
genetics. So..unless your symptoms have changed significantly, there should
be no reason to change your medication regimen based solely on a minimally
elevated ESR.
I am not a doctor - but I've been researching Lupus and related diseases for
8 years and was a lab technician for an immunology research group at Baylor.
Unless something has changed very recently in how ESRs are read (and that
test has been around for decades) than I feel 99% confident in my
assertions.
---
KCat
For Pen Talk, Images, Trading and Reviews: The Fountain Pen Network
http://pagesperso.laposte.net/fpnet
For Lupus Support and Info
http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/ASLFAQ/
"johnathon" <johnathon@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus.
> Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation
> Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it's considered normal for a
> figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was
> considered \the highest safe level. I'm confused and frightened as no one
> seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids - is that really
necessary?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> D.
>
>
| |
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| KCat wrote:
> "johnathon" <johnathon@johnathonrose.com> wrote in message
> news:creluj$8at$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> necessary?
> Hi D.
>
> An ESR of 22 is rarely noted by most docs. If it repeats, then they may
> want to look into it further but i've had ESRs up to 40 and doc just shrugs
> and says "it's how much inflammation/pain you have."
So anti-inflammatory for pain should do it?
J
| |
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| johnathon wrote:
> I have a combination of Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) and lupus.
> Today I received a blood test result in which the Erythrocyte Sedimation
> Rate has a figure of 22. I have heard that it's considered normal for a
> figure of 24-25 for a female of my age, but the clinic told me that 15 was
> considered \the highest safe level. I'm confused and frightened as no one
> seems able to agree. Seems that I need steroids - is that really necessary?
Hello and welcome D,
talk to us anytime
J
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| If there is pain at all - then an anti-inflammatory can help - but they
aren't generally disease-modifying such as steroids and chemo. So they are
not likely to alter the ESR. Aspirin, naproxen and such do reduce part of
the inflammatory process - but not the beginning of it. But the ESR is just
a symptom - and lowering it by drugs of any kind may not mean anything to
the disease process. Some people have normally "high" ESRs, some low. I've
seen people (my daughter, myself) in extreme pain with ESRs below 20. good
ol' immune system, eh?
---
KCat
For Pen Talk, Images, Trading and Reviews: The Fountain Pen Network
http://pagesperso.laposte.net/fpnet
For Lupus Support and Info
http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/ASLFAQ/
"J" <example@example.net> wrote in message
news:41DBC1F9.A7012515@execulink.com...
> KCat wrote:
>
lupus.[vbcol=seagreen]
Sedimation[vbcol=seagreen]
a[vbcol=seagreen]
was[vbcol=seagreen]
one[vbcol=seagreen]
shrugs[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> So anti-inflammatory for pain should do it?
> J
>
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| Hi D,
You really want to try and avoid steriods - if you can. The side
effects of long term use are ugly. I've been on steroids for a long
time. Without steroids my ESR runs from 110-120. With them I'm down
to 50-55.
With an ESR of 22, you should be ok.
Linda
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