Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group POLL Question: ESR vs blood type

We have had discussions about ESR and disease activity. It seems that over 40% of those of us with AS do not have elevated ESR during episodes (flares), and many of these do not 'indicate' through elevated CRP, either.

I have asked several medical people (microbiologists), and they agree it would be interesting to find out whether individuals who 'indicate' with elevated numbers have similar blood types.

I'm type O positive and I do indicate (ESR; CRP unknown).

Regards to all,
John

A+ here. I don't indicate through either test.

Errrr..........crp? esr? I do know that mine is red though, I guess that isn't much help though!

I am A+ and I have an elevated CRP and my ESR has also been elevated but the last test indicated it was normal.

I do not think that it has anything to do with blood type. I think it is more likely that the lack of an elevated ESR or CRP is an indication that either the anti-inflammatories are working, or the cause of the pain is not due to inflammation but possibly due to fibromyalgia (ESR and CRP are not elevated during a bout of rheumatism).

My comments are a result of my own experience in the past 18 years. I had a diagnosis of FMS because I did not have an elevated ESR or CRP, until recently. My markers have changed in several ways including the elevated CRP, a change in the RF so that I am now positive for the rheumatoid factor, plus an increase in the ANA, now standing at 1:160.

Hey John,

Like you I am also O+, but my ESR never varies. When I flare I can bet that CRP is high. I have had enough bloodwork during flares that I can usually predict within a point or two, where my CRP level is.

I have had some pretty severe flares recently, in which neither my ESR nor my CRP levels were elevated.

Keep Kickin'AS
Chris

Hi John
I am O+ too, and have often had raised ESR levels up to around 98. Have to confess to CPR ignorance.
Best wishes
Di

A negative... ESR does not elevate... CRP does.

Tim

Hi John,

O+ here, and never had elevated ESR or CRP. (instead CPK is always elevated). I personally think that the importance of blood group typing is being underrated and we should have much more research on it.

Regards,
Ram

Hi John,
I am O+ and only my CRP gets elevated, it is elevated all the time since I am off all NSAIDS.

Janet

O+, HLA-B27 negative, no elevation in sed rate when flaring.