What is ESR in a blood test? What is the deviation from the norm?

Blood washes all organs and systems, therefore, primarily reflects the anomalies occurring in the body. The general analysis of the blood consists in counting the number of certain cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, reticulocytes, platelets), an increase or decrease in the number of which indicates certain pathologies.

About what is ESR in the analysis of blood, I would like to know many people who see a doctor about various diseases. ESR (the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation) directly depends on the composition of protein molecules in the plasma.

How is the analysis done?

In the laboratory, blood with the addition of drugs that prevent coagulation, is placed in a narrow and high test tube. Over an hour, red blood cells begin to sink under their own weight to the bottom, leaving blood plasma - a yellowish liquid. Measuring its level allows us to determine the settling velocity in mm / h.

Why do we need this indicator?

What each ESR in the analysis of blood and what factors affect it, knows every doctor who treats inflammatory diseases. The rate of sedimentation of red blood cells may increase and decrease, which will indicate the reaction of the body. Erythrocytes move faster when other large molecules appear - immunoglobulins or fibrinogen. These proteins are produced during the first two days of infection. Just then, the ESR index begins to rise, reaching a peak value by the 12th-14th day of the disease. If at this level there was an increase in the number of leukocytes, then the body is actively fighting with microbes.

Increase or decrease in the settling rate

To find out what the ESR is in the blood test, why the indicator can increase, it is possible at the reception of the attending physician. The norm for women is from 2 to 15 mm / hour, and for men - from 1 to 10 mm / hour. It follows that the weaker sex is more prone to inflammation. The most common causes of the acceleration of ESR are such processes as:

1. Purulent inflammatory (angina, damage to bones, uterine appendages).
2. Infectious diseases.
3. Malignant tumors.
4. Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis).
5. Thrombosis.
6. Cirrhosis of the liver.
7. Anemia and blood cancer.
8. Diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes, goiter).

A harmless cause of a high rate of erythrocyte sedimentation may be pregnancy.

To find out from the doctor what an ESR is in the analysis of blood, it is possible and with a slowdown of the indicator against the background:

1. Stomach ulcer.
2. Hepatitis.
3. Erythrocytosis of the true (chronic leukemia) and caused by insufficient intake of oxygen into the cells (heart disease, lungs).
4. Muscular dystrophy.
5. Pregnancy and starvation.

In patients taking steroid drugs for the treatment of arthritis, asthma, also increased ESR in the blood.

When should I go to the doctor and be examined?

It happens that the result of the blood test remains without deciphering. Then you need to go to the doctor with a question about what is ROE in the blood test (obsolete name for ESR).

The level of up to 30 mm per hour is a manifestation of sinusitis, otitis media, inflammation of the female genitalia, prostatitis, pyelonephritis. Most likely, the disease is in a chronic stage, but requires medical supervision.

The level above 40 mm per hour is an occasion for a large-scale examination, since the value indicates serious infections, metabolic disorders, blood and immunity functions , foci of purulent lesions.