Is there a blood test for CRPS?

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Blood test for CRPS

The challenges presented in diagnosing CRPS highlight the importance of finding a simple, objective test for the condition. Early diagnosis means earlier specialist intervention, a broader range of treatment options and improved long-term prospects. Fortunately, this diagnostic Holy Grail may now have some basis in reality with the possibility of a blood test for CRPS.

Biomarkers for CRPS

In human medical terms, a biomarker is a measurable biological characteristic telling us something about the person. Routine medical biomarkers include such things as body temperature, blood pressure and BMI. However, many biomarkers are measurable only in a laboratory.

In terms of diagnosing CRPS, an Australian study published in 2020 found that levels of two inflammatory biomarkers found in blood serum (Interleukin-37 and Tryptophan) are “significantly reduced” in people with CRPS, providing a definite signature for the condition. The results gathered from the 29 study participants enabled researchers to distinguish between those with CRPS and those (control subjects) without.

There’s also an encouraging article reviewing the development of diagnostic biomarkers for chronic pain conditions affecting the upper limb, including CRPS, published last year in the Journal of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

When will a routine blood test for CRPS materialise?

Available study results are very encouraging, and there is little doubt that, at the very least, they represent the basis for scaling up the research. But as with all biomedical advances, bringing new science to market in a user-friendly, affordable form can be a long journey. That’s assuming the biosciences industry considers the science to have sufficient commercial potential to justify its considerable investment.

However, the market for a blood test for CRPS is considerable in terms of numbers. Indeed, it’s thought that in the US alone, around 200,000 people develop the condition each year.

What would a diagnostic blood test for CRPS mean for a personal injury claimant?

A diagnostic blood test would likely mean that many new personal injury claimants with CRPS would already have a definitive diagnosis. However, even an unquestionable diagnosis does not immediately satisfy the requirement for the claimant to prove the condition was caused by the event leading to the claim. There’s still considerable scope for disagreement between medical experts in that respect.

Also, a claim does not necessarily fail simply because the claimant does not meet the diagnostic criteria for CRPS despite exhibiting some of its signs and symptoms. For example, a different diagnostic label may better ‘fit’ those signs and symptoms. [See: CRPS vs FND.]

However, a prompt diagnosis improves the chances of persuading the other party to make early interim payments to fund specialist treatment and financially keep the claimant’s head above water.