What is elevated soy in a blood test. What does a blood test for ESR show: norm and deviations

  • The date: 29.06.2020

At present, medicine has ample opportunities, however, for a particular type of diagnostics, research methods developed almost a century ago have not lost their relevance. The ESR indicator (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), formerly referred to as ROE (erythrocyte sedimentation reaction), has been known since 1918. Methods for its measurement have been defined since 1926 (according to Westergren) and 1935 according to Winthrop (or Wintrobe) and have been used to this day. A change in ESR (ROE) helps to suspect the pathological process at its very beginning, identify the cause and begin early treatment. The indicator is extremely important for assessing the health of patients. As part of the article, we will consider situations when people are diagnosed with elevated ESR.

ESR - what is it?

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is really a measurement of the movement of erythrocytes under certain conditions, calculated in millimeters per hour. For the study, a small amount of the patient's blood is needed - the calculation is included in the overall analysis. It is estimated by the size of the plasma layer (the main component of blood) remaining on top of the measuring vessel. For the reliability of the results, it is necessary to create conditions under which only the force of gravity (gravity) will affect the erythrocytes. It is also necessary to prevent blood clotting. In the laboratory, this is done thanks to anticoagulants.

The process of erythrocyte sedimentation can be divided into 3 stages:

  1. slow settling;
  2. Acceleration of sedimentation (due to the formation of erythrocyte columns formed in the process of gluing individual erythrocyte cells);
  3. Settling slowdown and complete stop of the process.

Most often, it is the first phase that matters, but in some cases it is necessary to evaluate the result even a day after blood sampling. This is already done in the second and third stages.

Why does the parameter value go up

The level of ESR cannot directly indicate the pathogenic process, since the reasons for the increase in ESR are diverse and are not a specific sign of the disease. In addition, the indicator does not always change during the course of the disease. There are several physiological processes in which ESR increases. Why, then, is analysis still widely used in medicine? The fact is that a change in ROE is observed at the slightest pathology at the very beginning of its manifestation. This allows you to take emergency measures to normalize the condition, before the disease seriously undermines human health. In addition, the analysis is very informative in assessing the body's response to:

  • Conducted drug treatment (use of antibiotics);
  • With suspicion of myocardial infarction;
  • Appendicitis in the acute phase;
  • angina;
  • Ectopic pregnancy.

Pathological increase in the indicator

Elevated ESR in the blood is observed in the following groups of diseases:
Infectious pathologies, often of a bacterial nature. An increase in ESR may indicate an acute process or a chronic course of the disease.
Inflammatory processes, including purulent and septic lesions. With any localization of diseases, a blood test will reveal an increase in ESR
Connective tissue diseases. ESR is high in SCS - systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma and other similar diseases
Inflammation localized in the intestine in ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease
malignant formations. The highest rate rises with multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma (the analysis determines an increase in ESR in bone marrow pathology - immature red blood cells that are unable to perform their functions enter the bloodstream) or stage 4 cancer (with metastases). Measurement of ESR helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph nodes)
Diseases accompanied by tissue necrosis (myocardial infarction, stroke, tuberculosis). Approximately one week after tissue damage, the ESR index increases to the maximum
Blood disorders: anemia, anisocytosis, hemoglobinopathies
Diseases and pathologies accompanied by an increase in blood viscosity. For example, profuse blood loss, intestinal obstruction, prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, postoperative recovery period
Diseases of the biliary tract and liver
Diseases of metabolic processes and the endocrine system (cystic fibrosis, obesity, diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis and others)
Trauma, extensive skin damage, burns
Poisoning (food, bacterial waste products, chemicals, etc.)

Elevation above 100 mm/h

The indicator exceeds the level of 100 m/h in acute infectious processes:

  • SARS;
  • sinusitis;
  • Flu;
  • Pneumonia;
  • Tuberculosis;
  • Bronchitis;
  • Cystitis;
  • Pyelonephritis;
  • Viral hepatitis;
  • Fungal infections;
  • malignant formations.

A significant increase in the norm does not occur immediately, the ESR grows for 2-3 days before it reaches a level of 100 mm / h.

When an increase in ESR is not a pathology

Do not sound the alarm if a blood test showed an increase in the rate of sedimentation of red blood cells. Why? It is important to know that the result needs to be assessed over time (compared to earlier blood tests) and to take into account some factors that may increase the value of the results. In addition, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation syndrome can be a hereditary feature.

ESR is always increased:

  • During menstruation in women;
  • When pregnancy occurs (the indicator can exceed the norm by 2 or even 3 times - the syndrome persists for some time after childbirth, before returning to normal);
  • When women use oral contraceptives (birth control pills for oral administration);
  • In the morning. Known fluctuations in the value of ESR during the day (in the morning it is higher than in the afternoon or in the evening and at night);
  • With chronic inflammation (even if it is a common cold), the presence of acne, boils, splinters, etc., a syndrome of elevated ESR can be diagnosed;
  • Some time after the completion of treatment for a disease that can cause an increase in the rate (often the syndrome persists for several weeks or even months);
  • After eating spicy and fatty foods;
  • In stressful situations immediately before the test or the day before;
  • With allergies;
  • Some drugs may cause this reaction in the blood;
  • With a lack of vitamins from food.

An increase in the level of ESR in a child

In children, the ESR indicator may increase for the same reasons as in adults, however, the list above can be supplemented by the following factors:

  1. When breastfeeding (neglecting the mother's diet can cause accelerated sedimentation of red blood cells);
  2. Helminthiases;
  3. The period of teething (the syndrome persists for some time before and after it);
  4. Fear of testing.

Methods for determining results

There are 3 methods for calculating ESR manually:

  1. According to Westergren. For research, blood is taken from a vein, mixed in a certain proportion with sodium citrate. The measurement is carried out according to the tripod distance: from the upper border of the liquid to the border of red blood cells settled in 1 hour;
  2. According to Wintrobe (Winthrop). The blood is mixed with an anticoagulant and placed in a tube marked with divisions. At a high rate of sedimentation of red blood cells (more than 60 mm / h), the inner cavity of the tube is quickly clogged, which can distort the results;
  3. According to Panchenkov. For research, blood is needed from the capillaries (taken from a finger), 4 parts of it are combined with a part of sodium citrate and placed in a capillary graduated to 100 divisions.

It should be noted that analyzes performed using different methods cannot be compared with each other. In the case of an increased indicator, the first method of calculation turns out to be the most informative and accurate.

Currently, laboratories are equipped with special devices for automated calculation of ESR. Why is automatic scoring popular? This option is the most effective, since it eliminates the human factor.

When making a diagnosis, it is necessary to evaluate the blood test in the complex, in particular, great importance is attached to leukocytes. With normal leukocytes, an increase in ESR may indicate residual effects after the disease; at low - on the viral nature of the pathology; and at elevated levels - to bacterial.

If a person doubts the correctness of the blood tests performed, then you can always double-check the result in a paid clinic. Currently, there is a method that determines the level of CRP - C-reactive protein, it excludes the influence of third-party factors and indicates the response of the human body to the disease. Why hasn't it become widespread? The study is a very costly undertaking, it is impossible for the country's budget to implement it in all public medical institutions, but in European countries they have almost completely replaced the measurement of ESR with the determination of PSA.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is an indicator that is still important for diagnosing the body today. The definition of ESR is actively used to diagnose adults and children. Such an analysis is recommended to be taken once a year, and in old age - once every six months.

An increase or decrease in the number of bodies in the blood (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, etc.) is an indicator of certain diseases or inflammatory processes. Especially often, diseases are determined if the level of the measured components is elevated.

In this article, we will look at why ESR is increased in a blood test, and what this means in each case in women or men.

ESR - what is it?

ESR is the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes, red blood cells, which, under the influence of anticoagulants, settle at the bottom of a medical test tube or capillary for some time.

The settling time is estimated from the height of the plasma layer obtained as a result of the analysis, estimated in millimeters per 1 hour. ESR is highly sensitive, although it refers to non-specific indicators.

What does it mean? A change in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate may indicate the development of a certain pathology of a different nature, moreover, even before the onset of the manifestation of obvious symptoms of the disease.

With this analysis can be diagnosed:

  1. The response of the body to the prescribed treatment. For example, with tuberculosis, lupus erythematosus, inflammation of the connective tissue (rheumatoid arthritis) or Hodgkin's lymphoma (lymphogranulomatosis).
  2. Accurately differentiate the diagnosis: heart attack, acute appendicitis, signs of ectopic pregnancy or osteoarthritis.
  3. Ascertain the hidden forms of the disease in the human body.

If the analysis is normal, then an additional examination and tests are still prescribed, since a normal level of ESR does not exclude a serious disease in the human body or the presence of malignant neoplasms.

Norm indicators

The norm for men is 1-10 mm / h, for women on average - 3-15 mm / h. After 50 years, this figure can increase. During pregnancy, sometimes the rate can reach 25 mm / h. Such figures are explained by the fact that a pregnant woman has anemia and her blood thins. In children, depending on age - 0-2 mm / h (in newborns), 12-17 mm / h (up to 6 months).

The increase, as well as the decrease in the rate of red cell sedimentation for people of different ages and gender, depends on many factors. In the process of life, the human body is exposed to various infectious and viral diseases, which is why an increase in the number of leukocytes, antibodies, and erythrocytes is noticed.

Why ESR in the blood is higher than normal: causes

So, why is an elevated ESR detected in a blood test, and what does this mean? The most common cause of high ESR is the development of inflammatory processes in organs and tissues, which is why many perceive this reaction as specific.

In general, the following groups of diseases can be distinguished, in which the rate of sedimentation of red blood cells increases:

  1. Infections. A high ESR accompanies almost all bacterial infections of the respiratory tract and genitourinary system, as well as other localizations. This is usually due to leukocytosis, which affects the aggregation features. If the leukocytes are normal, then it is necessary to exclude other diseases. In the case of the presence of symptoms of infection, it is likely to be viral or fungal in nature.
  2. diseases, in which there is not only an inflammatory process, but also decay (necrosis) of tissues, blood cells and the entry of protein breakdown products into the bloodstream: purulent and septic diseases; malignant neoplasms; , lungs, brain, intestines, etc.
  3. ESR increases very strongly and remains at a high level for a long time with autoimmune diseases. These include various thrombocytopenic purpura, rheumatic and scleroderma. Such a reaction of the indicator is due to the fact that all these diseases change the properties of the blood plasma so much that it is oversaturated with immune complexes, making the blood defective.
  4. Diseases of the kidneys. Of course, with an inflammatory process that affects the renal parenchyma, the ESR value will be higher than normal. However, quite often an increase in the described indicator occurs due to a decrease in the level of protein in the blood, which in high concentration goes into the urine due to damage to the renal vessels.
  5. Pathologies metabolism and endocrine sphere- thyrotoxicosis.
  6. Malignant rebirths bone marrow, in which erythrocytes enter the bloodstream, not being ready to perform their functions.
  7. Hemoblastosis (leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis, etc.) and paraproteinemic hemoblastoses (multiple myeloma, Waldenström's disease).

These causes are most common with a high level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In addition, when passing the analysis, all the rules for conducting the test must be observed. If a person has even a slight cold, the rate will be increased.

Women, due to hormonal and physiological changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and menopause, are more likely to undergo a qualitative and quantitative change in the content of dry residues in the blood. These reasons can cause an increased ESR in the blood in women up to 20-25 mm / h.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons when the ESR is above the norm, and it is problematic to understand what this means only from one analysis. Therefore, the assessment of this indicator can only be entrusted to a truly knowledgeable specialist. You should not do something yourself that cannot be correctly determined with certainty.

Physiological causes of increased ESR

Many people know that an increase in this indicator, as a rule, indicates some kind of inflammatory reaction. But this is not a golden rule. If an elevated ESR in the blood is found, the causes can be quite safe and do not require any treatment:

  • dense meal before the test;
  • fasting, strict diet;
  • menstruation, pregnancy and the postpartum period in women;
  • allergic reactions, in which fluctuations in the initially increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • allow us to judge the correct anti-allergic therapy - if the drug works, then the indicator will gradually decrease.

Undoubtedly, it is very difficult to determine what this means just by the deviation of one indicator from the norm. An experienced doctor and an additional examination will help to understand this.

Elevation above 100 mm/h

The indicator exceeds the level of 100 m/h in acute infectious processes:

  • Flu;
  • Pneumonia;
  • Tuberculosis;
  • Viral hepatitis;
  • Fungal infections;
  • malignant formations.

A significant increase in the norm does not occur immediately, the ESR grows for 2-3 days before it reaches a level of 100 mm / h.

False increase in ESR

In some situations, changes in indicators indicate not a pathological process, but some chronic conditions. The level of ESR can increase with obesity, an acute inflammatory process. Also, false changes in ESR are observed:

  1. At .
  2. Due to the use of oral contraceptives.
  3. Subsequent vaccination against hepatitis B.
  4. With long-term use of vitamins, which include a large amount of vitamin A.

Medical studies show that often for no reason ESR can increase in women. Doctors attribute such changes to hormonal disruptions.

Increased ESR in a child: causes

Increased soy in the blood of a child is most often caused by inflammatory causes. You can also identify such factors that lead to an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in children:

  • metabolic disease;
  • getting injured;
  • acute poisoning;
  • autoimmune diseases;
  • stressful state;
  • allergic reactions;
  • the presence of helminths or sluggish infectious diseases.

In a child, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be observed in case of teething, unbalanced nutrition, lack of vitamins. If children complain of malaise, in this case, you should consult a doctor and conduct a comprehensive examination, the doctor will determine why the ESR analysis is increased, after which the only correct treatment will be prescribed.

What to do

It is not advisable to prescribe treatment with an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the blood, since this indicator is not a disease.

Therefore, in order to make sure that there are no pathologies in the human body (or, on the contrary, they take place), it is necessary to appoint a comprehensive examination, which will give an answer to this question.

Most residents of Pskov in the new 2017 have already received receipts from their management companies and were surprised to find in them three new lines for paying "KR on SDI" - utility resources [hot and cold water, as well as electricity] for the maintenance of the common property of an apartment building. With even greater surprise, many found that they would now pay noticeably more. The most common question to me from acquaintances over the past few days is something like this: “Alexey, hello! In January 2017, our house was supplied with 930 kW of ODN electricity. For previous months, the values ​​ranged from 125 kW to 718 kW. Where can I go to determine the correctness of the ODN charges for electricity? Or more simply: “Tell me, please, has everyone’s rent increased by 1,000 rubles?” Here . What is this....and where did it come from? And most importantly, what will happen next? Let's try to figure it out...

All these changes are related to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1498 “On the provision of utilities and the maintenance of common property in an apartment building”, which was at the end of 2016 - December 26. According to this document, since January 2017, the cost of water (cold and hot) and electricity for the maintenance of common property(SOI) were retrained from communal on the housing service. In this regard, they began to be included in the total payment for the maintenance of residential premises. It is indicated in the receipts of managers, not resource-supplying organizations. Hence the 3 new lines in the receipts of the "managers": XV on SDI, GV on SDI and EL. on SOI.

But this, of course, is not the main thing in this innovation. The amount that tenants must now pay for various common house needs (the same ONE) is now calculated in a new way.

Previously, many tenants complained about exorbitant numbers in receipts for ODN. These figures were calculated on the basis of the 354th government decree based on the actual readings of common house meters (meters). The essence of this scheme, to put it simply, was a simple principle: from the indicators of the general house meter, on the basis of which the managing organization pays off with the resource supply for water and electricity, the indicators of the meters in the apartments (where they are), were deducted, and for apartments without meters, the approved standards were applied - so the amount of expenses for common house needs was obtained. But, since in some premises there are much more tenants than prescribed, and some tenants pay for housing and communal services, to put it mildly, out of time or do not pay at all for a long time, conscientious tenants often had to pay “for themselves and for that guy” (and for abnormal losses caused by violation of the requirements for the operation of in-house engineering systems, and for non-payments of neighbors). To solve this problem, in the December government decree it was said that only the calculation method should be used.

Thus, starting from this year, the documents for paying for housing include payments for communal resources consumed when using common property in an apartment building, based on approved standards and tariffs. That is, the fee for these services will be fixed and constant up to a change in either standards or tariffs.

Residents will see the results of applying the calculation method in full in the receipts they will receive in February.

So, for cold and hot water supply in houses up to 5 floors, the monthly standard will decrease from 0.223 cubic meters and 0.124 cubic meters per 1 square meter of total area, respectively, to 0.034 cubic meters (for both cold and hot water), in houses from 5 to 9 floors - from 0.106 and 0.126 cubic meters to 0.024 cubic meters. Agree, this is very significant - here the standards have decreased several times at once.

As for the rest of the standards for maintenance (for sewerage and electricity supply), they (so far) have remained unchanged relative to those approved by Decree No. 123 of the Pskov State Committee on Tariffs in November 2016, that is, even before the December government decree. And if, for some reason, the owners have almost no questions about water (why are they the same for cold and hot water?), then drainage and electricity make many recall mathematical analysis.

Let's start with water: the very logic of determining the standard for wastewater disposal in order to maintain common property in an apartment building as the sum of standards for cold and hot water seems correct. But only if you do not take into account the fact that the maintenance of common property is not just pouring water on the floor of the stairwell or straight into the sewer. However, these are matters of federal regulation.

We are more interested in the standard for electricity, because it is this item of expenditure that increased the most in January payments. Previously, let me remind you, the electricity bill for the ODN was calculated by subtracting the consumption of all apartments from the total consumption of the house. Now the standard is in effect. The following parameters were adopted for the Pskov region: 2.6 kW/h per square meter of area for houses without an elevator, 5 kW/h for houses with an elevator, and 6.1 kW/h for multi-apartment buildings of corridor and sectional type (hostels) equipped elevators. It must be said right away that these standards are quite consistent with the figures approved several years ago in other regions.

A standard is being formed from the consumption of electrical energy for lighting, the operation of locking devices and TV antenna amplifiers for houses without an elevator. In houses with an elevator, electricity costs for the operation of elevators, as well as fire-fighting automation and smoke removal systems are added here.

At the same time (attention!) the total annual consumption of electrical energy by each group of equipment that is part of the common property of an apartment building is determined in accordance with a regulatory document determined by the order of the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of the RSFSR as early as 1989. It turns out that when calculating the standard, modern energy-saving measures are not taken into account: neither motion sensors, nor energy-saving lamps, nor modern elevator equipment. Therefore, it turns out that the light in our entrances (as well as basements and attics) should burn for 4300 hours (or 179 days) a year, and the power density of lighting systems for common areas in apartment buildings per 1 square meter is 7.8 W . The story is the same with elevators, which, according to the developers of the standards - one Moscow institute - consume electricity 24/7. In Russian speaking, for our days it is monotonous.

The second component of payment for communal resources (including electricity) for the maintenance of common property is the tariffs for these resources themselves. They are approved by the Pskov Region State Committee for Tariffs and Energy, they are repeatedly checked and controlled - and I personally have no reason to doubt the correctness of the calculations.

With the third component of the board - also an ambush. Until now, there are disputes about what area to take into account when calculating the fee. Now the entire area over which this or that communication passes is taken into account. For example, for electricity, these are both attics and basements, even if there is only a small room in the basement in which the resource metering unit is located.

Yes, there are questions about the original data. Not always the information on the Housing Reform website and the data applied by the MA are the same. Technical documentation for apartment buildings is often lost. So it can be problematic to check the reliability of the considered area of ​​common areas.

Meanwhile, it is not yet clear why the actual consumption of electricity for general house needs, which was calculated earlier on the basis of subtracting the indicators of the general house meter and meters in apartments, turned out to be less than what was calculated according to the standard, to the methodology of which, at first glance, there are no serious claims except for the above .

What will happen next? And then we have to find answers to the questions - can the owners decide to pay for utility resources for the maintenance of common property (the same KR on SDI) according to the metering device, limited to the standard? Who will control the charging for this? Will there be a practice of fining managing organizations for overstated amounts in receipts? And there are many more questions. In the near future, we will look for answers to them together with all interested parties. Tomorrow, for example, we have scheduled a meeting together with representatives of the prosecutor's office.

The abbreviation "ESR" stands for "erythrocyte sedimentation rate". This is a non-specific laboratory indicator, which is determined by the patient.

ESR refers to the methods of initial diagnosis. Correct interpretation allows you to determine the algorithm for further actions of the doctor.

History and essence of the method

In 1918, it was found that ESR changes in women during pregnancy. Later it turned out that a change in the indicator is observed in inflammatory diseases. One of the methods for determining the indicator, which is still widely used in clinical practice, was developed by Westergren back in 1928.

The density of red blood cells is higher than the density of plasma, and if the blood does not coagulate, the red blood cells, under their own weight, gradually sink to the bottom of the laboratory tube.

Notice:to prevent blood clotting, an anticoagulant substance - sodium citrate (5% or 3.8% solution) is added to the container before the study.

The leading factor affecting the sedimentation rate is the aggregation of erythrocytes (i.e., their adhesion to each other). The formed indivisible particles known as "coin columns" have a smaller area-to-volume ratio, so they overcome fluid (plasma) resistance more easily and settle faster. The larger the size and number of aggregates, the higher the ESR.

Aggregation is affected by the protein composition of the plasma and the surface potential of red blood cells. With the development of pathology of infectious and inflammatory genesis, the electrochemical composition of the blood changes. The main reason for the increase in aggregation is the presence in the blood of the so-called. "acute phase proteins" - immunoglobulins, fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin and C-reactive protein. Agglutination is normally prevented by the negative charge of red blood cells, but it tends to change when antibodies and acute phase fibrinogen are added.

Note:an altered electrical charge and an increased tendency to aggregation are characteristic of atypical forms of erythrocytes.

Minor reductions in albumin content have practically no effect on the sedimentation rate, but a significant decrease in concentration causes a decrease in serum viscosity and an increase in the index.

Research by the Panchenkov method

To assess the ESR using this method, a special laboratory vessel is used - the so-called. Panchenkov capillary. First, sodium citrate is added to it up to the “P” mark, and the anticoagulant is transferred to the glass. Then, the test blood is drawn twice in succession up to the “K” mark, and combined with citrate. Citrated blood is again drawn into the capillary, which is fixed in a vertical position. ESR is determined after 60 minutes. or after 24 hours; the indicator is expressed in millimeters. This method, which is most often used by doctors in our country, gives high accuracy in single studies. Its main disadvantage is that the analysis takes a relatively long time.

Research according to the method of Westergren

The European method is somewhat more sensitive to an increase in ESR. For analysis, Westergren tubes with a diameter of 2.5 mm and a graduation of 200 mm are used. The material for research is venous blood mixed with sodium citrate (3.8%) in a ratio of 4:1. A reagent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) may be added to the blood. The indicator is expressed in mm/hour.

Important:studies according to Panchenkov and Westergren can give different numbers, and the higher the ESR, the greater the possible difference. Therefore, in the decoding of the analysis, it must be indicated by what method the analysis was done. If you received the results in a laboratory that determines the ESR according to international standards, be sure to check whether the results were brought to the standards of Panchenkov's indicators.

Interpretation of the results: normal ESR in adults and children

Normal ESR values ​​differ depending on gender, age, and some individual characteristics of the subject.

Limits of the norm for adults:

  • for men - 2-12 mm / hour;
  • for women - 3-20 mm / hour.

Important:with age, the indicator increases, significantly going beyond the normal range. In older people, a speed of 40-50 mm / h can be determined, and this is far from always a sign of infection, inflammation or other pathology. For women over 60 years of age, numbers in the range of 2-30 mm / hour are considered the norm, and for men of the same age - 2-20 mm / hour.

Limits of the norm for children of different ages (in mm / h):

  • newborns - up to 2;
  • from 2 to 12 months - 2-7;
  • from 2 to 5 years - 5-11;
  • from 5 to 12 years old - 4-17;
  • boys over 12 years old 2-15;
  • girls over 12 years old - 2-12.

The most common deviations are in the direction of increasing numbers. The inaccuracy of the analysis may be due to a violation of the rules for conducting. Blood for ESR must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning. If the subject was hungry the day before or, conversely, had dinner too tight, the results are distorted. In such situations, it is recommended to retake the analysis after 1-2 days. The result of ESR is influenced by the conditions of storage of biological material before the study.

What does an increase in ESR mean?

ESR analysis is famous for its simplicity and low cost, but the interpretation of the results often presents certain difficulties. Figures within the normal range do not always indicate the absence of an active pathological process.

It has been established that in a number of patients with diagnosed malignant diseases, this indicator is less than 20 mm/hour. As for cancer patients, a significant increase in the rate of red cell sedimentation is more typical for individuals with solitary tumors than for patients with malignant blood diseases.

In some cases, no disease is detected in subjects with an ESR of 100 mm/h and above.

The main reasons for the increase in ESR:

  • acute and chronic bacterial infections (infectious diseases of the respiratory and urinary systems, as well as);
  • viral infections (including);
  • fungal infections (systemic candidiasis);
  • malignant diseases (tumor neoplasms, lymphomas and multiple myeloma);
  • rheumatological diseases;
  • kidney disease.

An increase in ESR is also characteristic of some other diseases and conditions, including:

  • anemia;
  • chronic granulomatous periodontitis;
  • inflammation of the pelvic organs (for example, the prostate gland or appendages);
  • enterocolitis;
  • phlebitis;
  • significant injuries (including bruises and);
  • high tension;
  • condition after the operation.

Important:an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate over 100 mm / h is most often detected with an active infectious process (including), malignant tumors, oncohematological diseases, systemic lesions of the connective tissue and kidney diseases.

An increased ESR does not necessarily indicate the presence of pathology. Within 20-30 mm / hour, it increases in pregnant women, during menstruation, as well as against the background of taking certain pharmacological drugs - in particular salicylates (Acetylsalicylic acid,), complexes containing