Erythrocyte
Sedimentation Rate (ESR):
Frequently Ordered Test
The Erythrocyte Sedimentation
Rate (ESR) is a screening test for various diseases. It is a simple
one-hour test that is frequently ordered in clinical medicine. An
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate measures the distance that erythrocytes
have fallen after one hour in a vertical column of anticoagulant
blood under the influence of gravity.
Women tend to have a higher Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate values,
as do the elderly. This test is used to monitor inflammatory or
malignant diseases. The amount of fibrinogen
present in the blood directly correlates with the Erythrocyte Sedimentation
Rate. Any condition that elevates levels of fibrinogen
may also elevate the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Conditions that elevate fibrinogen include:
- Rheumatoid
arthritis
- Rheumatic fever
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes Mellitus
- End-stage renal failure
- Heart disease
- Collagen vascular disease
- Malignancy
Lower-than-normal levels occur with:
- Congestive heart failure
- Hyperviscosity
- Hypofibrinogenemia (decrease fibrinogen levels)
- Low plasma protein
- Sickle cell anemia
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate has been
shown to satisfactory monitor acute-phase response to diseases after
the first 24 hours; however, usefulness of this test has decreased
as new and more accurate methods of evaluating diseases have been
developed.
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