Thursday, March 19, 2015

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate, ESR)



Erythrocytes in plasma usually settle slowly. However, if they aggregate for any reason (usually because of plasma proteins called acute phase reactants, eg, fibrinogen), they settle rapidly. Sedimentation of RBCs occurs because of their greater density than plasma. ESR measures the distance in mm that erythrocytes fall during 1 hour. 


Normal Range: Male: < 10 Female: < 15

increased in: Infections (osteomyelitis, pelvic inflammatory disease [75%]), inflammatory disease (temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatic fever), malignant neoplasms, paraproteinemias, anemia, pregnancy, chronic renal failure, GI disease (ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis). 
 
Decreased in: Polycythemia, sickle cell anemia, spherocytosis, anisocytosis, hypofibrinogenemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, congestive heart failure, microcytosis, drugs (high dose corticosteroids). Low value of no diagnostic significance. 
 
Additional: There is a good correlation between ESR and C-reactive protein, but ESR is less expensive. Test is useful and indicated only for diagnosis and monitoring of temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. The test is not sensitive or specific for other conditions. ESR is higher in women and older persons.

0 comments:

Post a Comment