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Can sed rate and c reactive results be normal while taking Prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 11 hours ago | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
ESR and CRP are “indirect” measures of inflammation as compared to being able to directly quantify the actual amount of inflammation. This why ESR and CRP are never very reliable but are useful when a doctor expects excessive amounts of inflammation.
Suppression of inflammation in cases of an infection isn’t a good idea because it delays treatment with antibiotics. This isn’t why inflammation is suppressed in the context of PMR.
Replies to "@jabrown0407 ESR and CRP are “indirect” measures of inflammation as compared to being able to directly..."
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@dadcue They are considered indirect measurements because they do not actually quantify the inflammation in your system. They quantify a normal consequence of inflammation and thus the interpretation that if you have that much of what ever is being measured then your inflammation is high, low, normal.
Other indirect measurement tests that we see routinely are sodium, potassium, creatine, several thyroid tests and liver tests. In reality many blood tests fit the definition of indirect measurement. Even glucose is indirect.
The catch with inflammation is there are so many different types of inflammation, all the IL's, MMP's, TNF's, Th's, Treg. Each of these super types have sub types. More than I care to learn about. That's my doctor's job!