Higher SED rates on blood tests - linked to MS?
 

I'm trying to understand if the SED rate on my recent blood work (which was excellent according to my doctor) was showing as higher than desired as MS is an inflammatory disease?

My understanding is that this test is to look for inflammation in part. So would most with MS in any degree of activity of the disease then potentially register a higher SED rate than a person without MS?

I know that higher SED is seen in arthritis, which I do have a bit of in my jaw, but I was curious if those of us with MS commonly show up with higher numbers?

My SED was 27 (don't know if Canada and USA etc use the same numbers). I believe the desired is 20.. but I saw numbers in the 100s for folks with rheumatoid arthritis and such in various articles.

Sleeper posted wanting them to compare something blood numbers with LP numbers, think there's any relationship? As a PPMS, we are not inflammatory, don't show enhanced lesions with contrast on MRIs, so are we excluded from this. Marc calls us the red-headed stepchild of an orphan disease in his blog-Wheelchair Kamikaze. (Being a red-headed stepchild who's now an orphan, I can identify)

my blood work is constantly changing and all over the place. I can never figure out what triggers my platelet count to rise and fall and my CRP is off the charts!

Leaves me scratching my head everytime. :(

Can RRMS/SPMS patients see fluctuations in their SED rates due to the inflammatory process of MS?

IE: Can a higher SED, ruling out all else, be attributed to RRMS/SPMS? That's what I'm asking (sorry, I don't word things very clearly sometimes!).

I figure there has to be a link between RRMS/SPMS and fluctuations of the SED rate. My neurologist didn't mention it either, I figure it's not of a concern to the docs at this time, I'm just curious!

Laura, A high SED rate could be from an infection somewhere in the body. As a sign, like fever is a sign of disease, but not a disease in itself or a marker of a Type.

A sinus infection, UTI, etc., could make the SED rate increase. I had 78 one time years ago. The 20's is common. 7 over the high is not outrageous. It does vary from day to day, lab to lab. But call and ask.

I don't think it means a MS disease type, IMO.

It can be very high with Lupus, Arthritis, RA, and some other autoimmune diseases. Some meds can raise it too.

If your doctor is not concerned, then he knows the reason. If you are concerned, call and ask why your SED rate is higher than the normal range. It could be lower like 5 or 6 most times, so maybe something is going on in your body. :hug:

Thank you Lady, that's what I suspected (that I wasn't such a high number, and were it a concern, doc would have said something).

I had a head cold (viral) around the same time as I had the blood work done (if memory serves me correctly... it was before I left for Florida end of Jan, and I was sick just before leaving and when I arrived in FL). So it was likely something like that going around. I'm exposed to so many different flus, colds, etc at work. It's ridiculous.

Can't wait to be working from home so I can avoid the bulk of it!

Don't know some of these abbreviations, like LP or CRP. A doctor once told me my SED rate was high because I was old and all old people had higher SED rates. This was before dx with Porphyria and then Polycythemia Vera. PV will raise the platelets. Mine are now
about 4 times normal. I am taking Pegasys, a timed release Interferon for this. I have seen marked improvement in neuropathy in my feet in just two days. It is now Day 3. But I have had some degree of breathing problem one of these nights....the kind of semi=paralysis of the diaphragm which can occur in both MS and Porphyria. So that is a
rotten side effect. Did not have last night. Hope I can take this junk to improve neuropathy so much, including less numb in feet. My body is definitely a mystery. Probably all of our bodies are.
Pegasys is a timed release form of Interferon A. I think Interferon B is what is generally give in MS, i.e. Betaseron. I wonder if it has the same side effects? But I don't ever have typical side effects.