Which laboratory finding is typically elevated in a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica?

In polymyalgia rheumatica, an elevated sedimentation rate is a key laboratory finding. This condition is characterized by inflammation, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a non-specific marker that reflects the presence of inflammation in the body. When inflammation occurs, proteins such as fibrinogen increase, causing red blood cells to clump together and settle more quickly at the bottom of a test tube. A significantly elevated sedimentation rate helps to confirm the diagnosis and monitor disease activity in polymyalgia rheumatica.

Other laboratory findings like hemoglobin might not show significant changes or may even be normal, as polymyalgia rheumatica does not typically cause anemia directly. Serum creatinine levels are more related to kidney function and are generally not pertinent to this diagnosis. Calcium levels might be altered in various conditions but are not directly associated with polymyalgia rheumatica itself. Therefore, the increase in the sedimentation rate is a hallmark of the inflammatory process associated with this condition.