Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate – What Is It?

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a laboratory test that is used to determine any inflammatory and neoplastic diseases that may be present. We will tell you how it is carried out and in which cases it is prescribed.

Clinical laboratory tests are of great importance in medical practice. Sometimes they are the only way to determine the presence of a disease. One of the most common tests done is the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation.

Also known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate , ESR or ESR , we have here is a test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube. A higher or lower sedimentation rate than usual indicates various diseases.

Under normal conditions, erythrocytes or red blood cells have a negative charge that causes them to repel each other, with a sedimentation rate of 10 millimeters (mm) per hour. However, this can vary depending on the study participant and their lifestyle.

Reasons why an ESR should be carried out

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a test that a specialist performs and that can indicate the presence of diseases. It can therefore be useful in the following situations:

• If you have a fever of unknown origin,
• some types of arthritis and
• Symptoms that affect the muscles.

However, the doctor must analyze the patient’s clinical examination along with the results of the laboratory tests in order to be able to make an accurate diagnosis. On the other hand, the ESR can be used as an important diagnostic criterion for the detection of two diseases: polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis , both of which are very rare and occur in patients over 50 years of age.

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disease that affects the closest muscles in the limbs and trunk, causing pain and restricting movement. Whereas temporal arteritis causes headache, decreased visual acuity, fever, jaw cramps and anemia.

Learn more: Blood Plasma Transfusion: Process, Types and Risks

How should I prepare for this test?

It is a fairly simple and quick test, so no extraordinary preparation is required. Fasting is not a requirement if only one erythrocyte sedimentation rate is being performed, but appropriate measures must be taken if other tests are being performed at the same time.

To perform the analysis, venous blood must be drawn with a syringe. The puncture is made in the arm. This can cause you to experience slight pain or discomfort during the test, which sometimes lasts for the rest of the day. However, it does not prevent you from doing everyday activities.

The blood test is very simple and is usually carried out using the Westergren method, in which 2 ml of blood is mixed with 0.5 ml of citrate in a test tube and the free distance between the red blood cells is measured. After one hour, the distance in mm from the erythrocyte-free zone is then recalculated to see how quickly the erythrocytes have sunk.

The importance of a high rate of erythrocyte sedimentation

If the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is above normal, it is possible that an inflammatory disease or neoplasm is present.  According to studies, the rate increases after 24 hours and then usually returns to normal values ​​only after it has resolved.

This type of disease increases the concentration of various proteins in the blood plasma. All of these proteins, especially fibrinogen, affect the surface charge on red blood cells, causing them to sink faster.

Various situations that increase blood fibrinogen such as: B. pregnancy, diabetes or end-stage renal insufficiency, however, are able to increase the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation. For example, we can name the following causes:

• anemia
• Macrocytosis
• Acute bleeding
• Acute heart attack
• Lymphoma
• Metastatic carcinoma

What does a low erythrocyte sedimentation rate mean?

Most of the time, a low rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is of little medical concern. In healthy patients, it can be up to 0 mm, so that it is usually not a cause for concern for specialists.

However, a low rate of erythrocyte sedimentation (between 0mm and 3mm) is linked to a number of health problems:

• Polyglobules, or large numbers of red blood cells
• Red blood cell deformations
• Hyperviscosity syndromes (HVS)
• Smoke
• Heart failure

In addition, infectious diseases such as dengue fever can cause a slight decrease in the sedimentation rate. This fact was even proven in a study where the ESR of patients with this disease was very low compared to others with acute febrile syndromes.

A simple but efficient test

As can be seen, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is not a complex test, but it is very useful for determining the presence of inflammatory diseases. It can therefore help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.

As for the patient, he doesn’t need any special preparation to do it. Also, after the procedure, he / she will be able to go about his / her daily activities without any difficulty.