- With Mayo Clinic rheumatologist
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
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April Chang-Miller, M.D.
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Dr. April Chang-Miller is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and is a consultant in the Division of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Dr. Chang-Miller's primary field is rheumatology with special interests in inflammatory joint diseases called seronegative spondyloarthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. She also cares for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
The New York City native is a graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine and had been with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., between 1991 and 2002 when she relocated to Mayo Clinic, Arizona. She is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and has been on the board of directors of the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter.
Causes (1)
- Is fibromyalgia hereditary?
Complications (1)
- Fibromyalgia: Can it cause elevated ESR and CRP levels?
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Fibromyalgia treatment: Does gabapentin relieve symptoms?
- TENS therapy: An option for fibromyalgia treatment?
- Milnacipran (Savella) for fibromyalgia: What makes it different?
Alternative medicine (1)
- Cupping therapy: Can it relieve fibromyalgia pain?
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Question
Fibromyalgia: Can it cause elevated ESR and CRP levels?
I have fibromyalgia. Whenever my rheumatologist does blood tests, I'm told that I have elevated ESR and CRP levels. What's the significance of these test results?
Answer
from April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points throughout the body. In fibromyalgia, lab tests are typically normal.
An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or a high level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in your blood may indicate inflammation somewhere in your body. However, it's not likely related to your fibromyalgia, since fibromyalgia isn't an inflammatory condition.
Instead, various conditions can cause elevated ESR and CRP levels, including:
- Infection
- Trauma
- Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Periodontal disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney failure
- Cancer
You also might have elevated ESR and CRP levels if you:
- Are overweight
- Smoke
- Are in poor physical shape or have low levels of physical activity
- Have diabetes or high blood pressure
- Are depressed
- Are elderly
- Have trouble sleeping
Sometimes, what you eat may lead to a minor increase in CRP level, such as a high-protein or low-fiber diet, or low intake of fruits and vegetables.
To better understand the clinical significance of your elevated ESR and CRP levels, consult your doctor.
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