Why ESR is elevated and whether it needs to be treated

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If there are abnormalities in the blood test, this does not always indicate a disease.

What is ESR

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is part of a complete blood count. The indicator depends on the state of the erythrocyte membrane and the presence of various proteins in the blood. ESR can change for natural reasons or indicate an inflammatory process in the body.

What is the ESR rate and how it is determined, we have already told here. And in this article we will figure out why it rises and when it is dangerous.

When increased ESR is not dangerous

ESR depends on the characteristics of the erythrocyte membrane and the concentration of certain proteins in the blood. Sometimes their number changes, but this is not associated with the disease, but is the norm. For example, the following people may have higher values:

• In pregnant women Pregnancy and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The longer the period, the higher the ESR. In the first half, the indicator can increase to 18–48 mm / h, and in the later period - up to 30–70 mm / h. If a woman suffers from anemia, then the results will be even higher - up to 95 mm / h.
• In the elderly, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and disease in the elderly. ESR increases with age. Even in healthy people after 60 years, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be 35–40 mm / h.
• Those who love fatty food. Clinical evaluation of laboratory test results. Due to such nutrition, more lipids become in the blood, the ESR also grows.

This does not mean that you do not need to pay attention to the increased ESR. In some cases, this is a sign of disease, so it is better to entrust the deciphering of the analysis to a therapist.

What diseases can an increased ESR speak about?

Most often, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is associated with various inflammatory processes. But remember: the indicator does not help determine what kind of disease a person has. ESR is only needed to monitor the condition. And its increase may indicate a certain group of pathologies.

Infections

ESR increases Nursing in therapy for any infectious disease. It can be a simple ARVI, acute inflammatory processes in the genitourinary organs or intestines. After recovery, this rate usually decreases gradually. But in people with chronic or severe infections, abnormalities can persist for a long time. For example, with mononucleosis, the clinical and laboratory features of infectious mononucleosis, depending on the etiological factor in children, tuberculosis.

Aseptic inflammation

In some diseases, tissues are destroyed and inflamed, but this is not associated with the action of microorganisms. Such pathologies include:

• heart attack;
• stroke The erythrocyte sedimentation rate: old and new clinical applications;
• cirrhosis Features of hemogram parameters in liver cirrhosis;
• nonspecific Analysis of laboratory parameters in patients with ulcerative colitis ulcerative colitis.

Immune disorders

If a person has a condition in which immune cells attack their own tissues or foreign proteins, this causes immune disorders and leads to an increase in ESR. Due to the pathology, there are more immunoglobulins in the blood, a protein of fibrinogen, which are involved in inflammatory reactions and increase erythrocyte sedimentation.

ESR can increase with sugar. Changes in the functional state of the immune system in patients with various types of diabetes mellitus, allergies. TYPES OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS, MECHANISMS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. IV TYPE OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS PART I and the following autoimmune pathologies:

• systemic lupus erythematosus A case of golimumab-induced cutaneous lupus erythematosus;
• rheumatoid arthritis Erythrocyte aggregation in rheumatoid arthritis: Cell and plasma factor's role;
• giant cell arteritis Sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate);
• polymyalgia rheumatica;
• glomerulonephritis Clinical evaluation of laboratory results.

Diseases of the blood

Changes in blood composition, shape or concentration of cells can lead to an acceleration of ESR. Is this happening Blood sedimentation-a simple and useful test? in such cases:

• with iron deficiency anemia, when the level of hemoglobin decreases;
• with sickle cell anemia, when erythrocytes take the shape of a crescent;
• with macrocytosis Blood sedimentation-a simple and useful test? - a disease in which the volume of the erythrocyte cell increases.

Oncology

With malignant tumors, various antibodies, inflammatory proteins, toxic substances appear in the blood, which are the result of the breakdown of the tumor. They significantly accelerate the ESR. Changes in the blood test will appear with myeloma Sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) disease, acute leukemia, lymphoma. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Still a helpful test when used judiciously, prostate cancer The erythrocyte sedimentation rate: old and new clinical applications or other organ.

Rare diseases and conditions

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate can also increase for other reasons. Clinical evaluation of laboratory results. Sometimes this happens with high cholesterol, hyper- or hypothyroidism, protein deficiency. For some people, an increase in ESR is a side effect of certain medications. For example, morphine, vitamin A supplements, blood pressure medications.

What to do with increased ESR

If a person, during a routine medical examination, took a blood test and found an increased ESR in him, and there are no other deviations from the norm, most likely this is not scary. To get rid of doubts, the doctor should prescribe The erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Still a helpful test when used judiciously retest after a few months.

But those with other changes in the blood may need additional testing. What - will be decided by a specialist who noticed an increased ESR.