Main Inflammatory Markers to Focus in a Blood Test Report

Below are some of the important blood test markers for indicating inflammation in our body. These indicators signify the level of inflammation in our bodies. They could be used to analyze and treat various infections, chronic diseases, autoimmune diseases and and lifestyle disorders.

ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) Test

Reference range: 1:40 to 1:60

An ANA test looks for antinuclear antibodies in your blood. If the test finds antinuclear antibodies in your blood, it may mean you have an autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disorder causes your immune system to attack your own cells, tissues, and/or organs by mistake. These disorders can cause serious health problems.

Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances like viruses and bacteria. But an antinuclear antibody attacks your own healthy cells instead. It’s called “antinuclear” because it targets the nucleus (center) of the cells.

HOMOCYSTEINE

Reference Range < 30

Homocysteine is linked to increased risk of premature coronary artery disease, stroke and thromboembolism. Moreover, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, venous thrombosis, schizophrenia, cognitive deficiency and pregnancy complications also elevates.

Elevated homocysteine levels might be due to increasing age, genetic traits, drugs, renal dysfunction and dietary deficiency of vitamins or smoking. To lower your homocysteine, eat more green vegetables, stop smoking, alcohol. Folic acid helps lowering elevated levels.

ANTI CCP or Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP)

Reference Range:

Negative : < 25
Positive : > 25

Anti-Cyclic-Citrullinated-Peptide (Anti-CCP) Antibodies hold promise for early and more accurate detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis before the disease proceeds into an irreversible damage. Anti-Cyclic-Citrullinated-Peptide (Anti-CCP) antibodies are detected using a solid phase enzyme immune assay having an analytical sensitivity of 25 RU/ml. Sensitivity of the method is 99% and specificity is 98.5%.

CYSTATIN C

Reference Range :-

<= 60 years: <= 1.03 mg/L
> 60 years : < 1.50 mg/L

Cystatin c, is a small 13-kda protein and is a member of the cysteine proteinase inhibitor family, it is produced at a constant rate by all nucleated cells. Due to its small size it is freely filtered by the glomerulus and is not secreted but is fully reabsorbed and broken down by the renal tubules. This means that the primary determinant of blood Cystatin c levels is the rate at which it is filtered at the glomerulus making it an excellent gfr marker. Cystatin c is also a marker of inflammation and like many other markers of inflammation; its serum concentration may be higher in patients with decreased renal clearance. There is mounting evidence, however, that Cystatin c may be a predictor of adverse outcomes independent of renal function with its higher sensitivity to detect a reduced GFR than Creatinine determination, also in the so-called “Creatinine-blind” range. Thus, Cystatin c is suggested to be a better marker for GFR than the ubiquitous serum Creatinine.

HIGH SENSITIVITY C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (HS-CRP)

Reference Range :-

Adult : <=3.0 mg/L

High sensitivity C-reactive protein, when used in conjunction with other clinical laboratory evaluation of acute coronary syndromes, may be useful as an independent marker of prognosis for recurrent events, in patients with stable coronary disease or acute coronary syndromes. hsCRP levels should not be substituted for assessment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with persistently unexplained, marked evaluation of hsCRP after repeated testing should be evaluated for non – cardiovascular etiologies.

hsCRP measurements may be used as an independent risk marker for the identification of individuals at risk for future cardiovascular disease. Elevated CRP values may be indicative of prognosis of individuals with acute coronary syndromes, and may be useful in the management of such individuals.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

Reference range: The normal range is 0 to 22 mm/hr for men and 0 to 29 mm/hr for women.

ESR is an indirect measurement of plasma protein concentrations and is influenced by a number of disease states. Because the ESR depends on several proteins with varying half-lives, the rate rises and falls more slowly than do CRP concentrations. Furthermore, normal ESR values are specific to age and sex; the rate increases steadily with age and is higher in women than in men. Although CRP measurements have a clear advantage over ESR values the ESR test remains useful in the diagnosis of select conditions, particularly general bone lesions and osteomyelitis.