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Multiple Choice

Which laboratory marker is elevated in SLE as an inflammatory marker?

In SLE, inflammatory activity is most reliably reflected by an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. ESR rises with chronic inflammation due to higher fibrinogen and immunoglobulins, so it tends to be elevated during lupus activity. CRP, while a general inflammatory marker, often stays normal in lupus flares and only goes up with infection or another inflammatory trigger. So the marker that’s typically elevated in SLE as an inflammatory marker is ESR. If CRP is elevated, look for an infection or another process in addition to lupus activity.

In SLE, inflammatory activity is most reliably reflected by an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. ESR rises with chronic inflammation due to higher fibrinogen and immunoglobulins, so it tends to be elevated during lupus activity. CRP, while a general inflammatory marker, often stays normal in lupus flares and only goes up with infection or another inflammatory trigger. So the marker that’s typically elevated in SLE as an inflammatory marker is ESR. If CRP is elevated, look for an infection or another process in addition to lupus activity.