SEDRATE

I was bitten by a cat several yrs. ago on my right thumb. It was so bad it broke through the joint and required surgery and a week in the hospital and a pic line in for 8 weeks. I was then released. 1 yr ago. I started having bad thumb pain they said the cat bite infection was back (or did not go away). I came up positive with a streptoccous virdian group with elevated sedrate in the 40's. I had surgery again a week in the hospital and a pic line in for 8 weeks.
I have had alot of blood tests, lupus, lyme disease, all the immune tests, liver, bladder everything is normal but I came back positive tracings Epsten Barr. I also just recently had my tonsils removed because I had so much pseaudonomas in my tonsils. If I don't rest alot I get very fatigued and not feeling well at all. I have good days and bad. My sedrate did go down when I was on pic line to normal and then starts to go up. Now it is back in the 40's. I do have a infectious disease Dr. But, I would like to have another opinion.
Thank you

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The thing with sedimentation rate is that it is very non-specific.  As you may know, this is a marker of inflammation and there are many diseases that can elevate this value.  Things like chronic infection, an injury, rheumatological disease, or cancer for instance.

In this case, chronic infection certainly may be a possibility and certainly should be discussed.  It seems like your physicians have also considered lupus and other rheumatological diseases already.  

Another option would be to seek an opinion with an infectious disease specialist to look further for a source of infection.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b