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

Namaste John Ji. My details:

AB+ . HLA B27+.

ESR, CRP is directly proportional to the disease activity.

High ESR, CRP ( say 40 mm/hr, 6 mg/dl) when there is pain/stiffness. Very high (say 100 mm/hr, 20 mg/dl ) when swelling also existed. For years I used to have high ESR.

Normal (say < 15 mm/hr, < 0.8 mg/dl) / Near Normal ( say < 20 mm/hr, < 2 mg/dl ), when there is no pain, no stiffness, no swelling. Little sunlight, 1 big glass milk, 30 min walking did the trick.

Hi John,

I am O negative and when I am in a flare my ESR is always up, been as high as 80 and I couldn't walk (SI joints) and my CRP has always been high I believe last check was 1.5 which is not good. HLA-B27 negative.

Lisa

B negative. ESR is always negative but I think the CRP was slightly elevated at the beginning of this whole thing. It has not been checked since then. That was a over a year ago. Amy

O+ HLAB27 Neg no Elevated ESR

O negative, B27 positive, sed rates, etc always read normal - even during my worst flares. Thank goodness for xrays. Good question...

John,

the responses so far have been very interesting. So far there is a majority with O+ blood type. Some get elevated indicators and others have remained normal. The extension of this qquestion seems to be whether or not one is HLAB27 negative or positive.

Since the ESR and CRP measure inflammation one has to wonder why these measures are not elevated for some and are elevated for others. What is the impact of the anti-inflamatories on these measures? From my own experience, I found that once I cut down on the NSAIDS my markers began to change dramatically, even though they remain "mild". Another marker of interest is the one that measures the lymphoctyes. The change in this marker, such that the lab suggested lymphoctyosis, could also be relevant in determining whether or not the other markers will be raised.

Then there is the issue of ANA - the anti-nuclear antibody is another inflammation marker. My ANA result has suddenly been on the rise. Five years ago it was 1:40 and now it is 1:160. At the same time my ESR had become elevated for the first time, and I had a CRP reading of 19.

My bone scan is the one thing that gives a real clue about how much inflammation there is in my body. Then there are the changes that are being noted on x-ray. What is so puzzling is that the change in my right sacroiliac joint was overlooked as far back as 1989 and 1990. At that stage my ESR was reading as normal.

Hi,

i can get ESR up on a long and unmanaged flare, but generally not a problem I've only ever seen my CRP up once, and I was n't bad from an arhtritis point of few just pre-flu/flare type stuff happening. Blood group can;t remember...by B27 neg!

Davo

Just a little info for the new folks....

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is a nonspecific screening test for various diseases. This 1-hour test measures the distance (in millimeters) that red blood cells settle in unclotted blood toward the bottom of a specially marked test tube.

What Is CRP?

It is not a new test, but it is a test in the news. CRP, also known as C-Reactive Protein, is a test which measures the concentration in blood serum of a special type of protein produced in the liver that is present during episodes of acute inflammation or infection.




Holly

John,

I can make this a "POLL" thread if you like. Just let me know how you would like it worded and I can do it!!

I think it would be most interesting!!

For me, I am O+ and don't think I have ever had my levels checked in a flare. (My AS hides from my rheumy) Come to think of it, my first visit was when I was flaring and I did have blood work. I will ask when I go to the Rheumy on August 28th.

Great thread!!!
Holly

A+ and have elevated ESR during flares.