Which Inflammatory Marker Should We Measure? ESR, CRP, or Both?

C-reactive protein testing should be given preference over erythrocyte sedimentation rate for most hospitalized patients.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level are the most widely used tests to monitor and detect inflammatory disorders. Often, they are ordered in tandem, but the clinical utility of this practice is uncertain. Researchers in a French academic tertiary hospital retrospectively evaluated all concomitant ESR and CRP measurements that were performed during 1 year to examine their level of agreement and diagnostic accuracy.

Among nearly 6000 patients, 67% had concordant ESR and CRP results (both normal or both elevated). In patients with discordant results, the most common discordance (85%) was elevated ESR but normal CRP. Review of 99 randomly selected charts with discordant results revealed that all 25 patients wit…

Reviewing Author

Aaron J. Calderon, MD, FACP

Disclosures

EquityAbbott; Medtronic; Merck; Pfizer; CVS Health Corp.; Bristol Myers Squibb

Aaron J. Calderon, MD, FACP

Disclosures

EquityAbbott; Medtronic; Merck; Pfizer; CVS Health Corp.; Bristol Myers Squibb

Which Inflammatory Marker Should We Measure? ESR, CRP, or Both?

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Reviewing Author