Elevated ESR

[freakyschizogirl]

Hi all, got the results back - no kidney problems, Horah!

They did say however i have got elevated ESR was 26 now 59 with no obvious infections etc. Any theories??

She also said i can now taper my pred from 5mg to 4mg, yay!

Thanks for reading.

Sam

[Sangye]

Yay for no kidney problems!

The rising ESR is a concern. Did they check your CRP also? Do you have anything else going on-- injury, diarrhea, etc... that involve inflammation?

[freakyschizogirl]

Everything is ok, no injury. Did have diarrohea a fwe weeks about but not now. At a loss to explain the elevated ESR.

[Sangye]

Well, it could be an anomaly. Sometimes they don't process the sample properly.

[freakyschizogirl]

*praying for anomaly*

So its definately ok to continue to taper the pred then? - Thats what i'm more concerned about!

[Sangye]

I don't know. What did your doctor say about it?

[freakyschizogirl]

Spoke to the nurse who didnt seem too concerned.

[Sangye]

Hmm. Just to be on the safe side, I suggest you call back and make sure the doctor has seen it. A nurse can't make that decision, especially when it comes to Wegs and tapering pred. A big jump in the ESR like that deserves an explanation from the doctor.

[pwc51]

I was reducing my Pred recently 15 down to 12.5 and then planning to go on to 10 and then 7.5 - a blood test at 12.5 showed a raised ESR, not as high as yours, but my consultant rang me and told me to stop reducing immediately! I am stuck on 12.5. The noticeable thing as I was reducing was a little joint activity - not the pain of WG, more a tingling. As I have stayed on 12.5 for a couple of weeks more this has largely gone. Not had a blood test since, still a couple of weeks away. Will be interesting to see the results.

[freakyschizogirl]

Thats interesting pwc51. Maybe i'll stay at 5mg a bit longer then

[pberggren1]

I would find out what your CRP is as well and your WBC. I would not taper down to 4 until you have the docs approval.

[freakyschizogirl]

Hi Phill.

She did mention my CRP was fine. Cant remember if she said WBC.

Think i will ring them back on monday.

[drz]

Thats interesting pwc51. Maybe i'll stay at 5mg a bit longer then

In those cases they often had me retested in a week to see if the high readings were valid. Sometimes there are errors in the processing or recording of results. Sometimes I had an infection that hadn't shown itself very clearly yet. ESR readings also tend to have a longer lag time compared to CRP which show short term changes better. There should not be any harm to delay the taper till you are more certain that everything is still OK.