Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: ESR

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: ESR

ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is commonly called a "sed rate."

It is a non-specific test for internal inflammation.


Below is one of the best sites explaining briefly what causes a high ESR.




http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003638.htm

ESR

    

ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is commonly called a "sed rate."

It is a test that indirectly measures how much inflammation is in the body.

How the Test is Performed
How to Prepare for the Test
How the Test will Feel
Why the Test is Performed

• Unexplained fevers

• Certain types of arthritis

• Muscle symptoms

• Other vague symptoms that cannot be explained

• Autoimmune disorders

• Bone infections

• Certain forms of arthritis

• Inflammatory diseases that cause vague symptoms

• Tissue death

Normal Results

• Men under 50 years old: less than 15 mm/hr

• Men over 50 years old: less than 20 mm/hr

• Women under 50 years old: less than 20 mm/hr

• Women over 50 years old: less than 30 mm/hr

• Newborn: 0 to 2 mm/hr

• Newborn to puberty: 3 to 13 mm/hr

What Abnormal Results Mean

• Anemia

• Cancers such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma

• Kidney disease

• Pregnancy

• Thyroid disease

• Lupus

• Rheumatoid arthritis in adults or children

• Allergic vasculitis

• Giant cell arteritis

• Hyperfibrinogenemia (increased fibrinogen levels in the blood)  

• Macroglobulinemia - primary

• Necrotizing vasculitis

• Polymyalgia rheumatica

• Body-wide (systemic) infection

• Bone infections

• Infection of the heart or heart valves

• Rheumatic fever

• Severe skin infections, such as erysipelas

• Tuberculosis

• Congestive heart failure

• Hyperviscosity

• Hypofibrinogenemia (decreased fibrinogen levels)

• Leukemia 

• Low plasma protein (due to liver or kidney disease)

• Polycythemia

• Sickle cell anemia

Alternative Names
References
Update Date 5/11/2013

A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The blood sample is sent to a lab.

The test measures how fast red blood cells (called erythrocytes) fall to the bottom of a tall, thin tube.

There are no special steps needed to prepare.

You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn.

Reasons why a "sed rate" may be done include:

This test may also be used to monitor whether an illness is responding to treatment.

This test can be used to monitor inflammatory diseases or cancer. It is a screening test. This means it cannot be used to diagnose a specific disorder.

However, the test is useful for detecting and monitoring:

For adults (Westergren method):

For children (Westergren method):

Note: mm/hr = millimeters per hour

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

An abnormal ESR may help with a diagnosis, but it does not prove that you have a certain condition. Other tests are almost always needed.

An increased ESR rate may be due to:

The immune system helps protect the body against harmful substances. An autoimmune disorder is when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. ESR is often higher than normal in people with an autoimmune disorder.

Common autoimmune disorders include:

Very high ESR levels occur with less common autoimmune disorders, including:

An increased ESR rate may be due to some infections, including:

Lower-than-normal levels occur with:

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Sed rate; Sedimentation rate

Pisetsky DS. Laboratory testing in the rheumatic diseases. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds.Goldman's Cecil Medicine

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.