A 60 year old male presents with symptoms of GCA. What should his normal ESR levels be?

In the context of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a critical laboratory test used to assess systemic inflammation. While normal ESR levels can vary based on age and gender, in general, a baseline ESR value can be considered typically low in healthy individuals.

For a 60-year-old male, normal ESR levels are generally expected to be lower than 20 mm/hr. However, during inflammatory conditions such as GCA, ESR levels can be significantly elevated. A value of 30 mm/hr indicates an increased inflammatory response, which is consistent with the symptoms and findings associated with GCA. Thus, a higher ESR level is expected in this clinical scenario, making 30 mm/hr a relevant answer when considering what is normal in the context of inflammation caused by GCA. It reflects the presence of heightened inflammation that is characteristic of this condition.