Causes of increased ESR in the blood in women, diagnosis, treatment. ESR is normal for age. ESR is higher than normal

A blood test for ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate - is required during the initial diagnosis.

This study only helps to determine the further course of medical actions. After all, whatever the results of the analysis, they are not a reliable sign of pathology. A deviation of ESR from the norm only indirectly indicates that an inflammatory process may be occurring in the body or an infection may be developing.

The importance of ESR testing

The results of the analysis are very individual. Their upward deviation is due to many reasons. There is no specific disease in which the ESR increases.

This indicator is considered general, nonspecific, since it does not answer the question of whether a person is healthy or sick.

But studying the results of the study:

promotes accelerated and timely implementation of additional tests;
in combination with data from other tests, it allows you to objectively assess the condition of the body;
makes it possible to make forecasts for the short term;
in dynamics indicates the course of the disease and how correctly the therapeutic methods have been chosen. Approaching the ESR to normal confirms that the medications and procedures prescribed by the doctor are successful and the patient is recovering.

Standard ESR values depend on a person’s age and gender.

The average for men is in the range from 8 to 12 units (millimeters per hour), for women - from 3 to 20.

With age, ESR increases and in advanced years reaches 50 units.

Elevated ESR: degrees of growth

For correct diagnosis, it matters how much the ESR value exceeds the norm. Depending on this, four degrees of deviation can be distinguished:

First, which is characterized by a slight increase in ESR. Other blood counts remain normal.
Second– the results of the analysis recorded an excess of ESR by 15–29 units. This signals that there is an infectious process in the body, which so far has little effect on its general condition. This situation is typical for colds. If they are treated, the ESR will return to normal in a couple of weeks.
Third– the increase in ESR is more than 30 units. This increase in the indicator is considered significant and serious. As a rule, the size of the ESR indicates the development of dangerous inflammatory or necrotic processes. It may take several months to treat the disease.
Fourth– ESR increases by 60 units or more. This situation reflects an extremely difficult and life-threatening condition of the body. Immediate and thorough treatment is required.

Causes of elevated ESR

An increase in ESR may be the result of the development of one or even several diseases at the same time. They can be classified as follows:

Infections are viral, bacterial and fungal. They can be relatively mild, such as acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections. But a serious illness often develops, in which the ESR exceeds the norm several times and reaches 100 mm/hour. For example:
- viral hepatitis;
- flu;
- pyelonephritis;
- pneumonia;
- bronchitis.
Neoplasms, both benign and malignant. ESR increases significantly, but the level of leukocytes may remain normal.
Video recipe for the occasion:

An increase in the indicator is more typical in the presence of single peripheral formations. Less commonly, it occurs when tumors of lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue are present.
Rheumatological diseases:
- true rheumatism;
- arthritis and arthrosis;
- ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis);
- all systemic vasculitis;
- transformation of connective tissue of a diffuse nature: Sjogren's disease, Sharp's syndrome, systemic scleroderma and lupus erythematosus, polymyositis.
Kidney disease and urinary tract dysfunction:
- hydronephrosis;
- urolithiasis disease;
- nephroptosis (prolapse of the kidney);
- pyelonephritis (more common in women);
- glomerulonephritis.
Blood diseases:
- hemoglobinopathy, namely thalassemia and sickle cell anemia;
- anisocytosis.
Severe conditions that are accompanied by an increase in blood viscosity:
- intestinal obstruction;
- diarrhea and vomiting;
- food poisoning.

In almost 20% of cases, the cause of excess growth of ESR is poisoning of the body and rheumatological diseases. These pathologies lead to the fact that the blood becomes thicker and more viscous, and red cells begin to settle at a faster rate.

The greatest increase in ESR occurs when infectious processes are present and developing in the body. The value of the indicator does not increase immediately, but only a day or two after the onset of the disease. When the body recovers, the ESR decreases slowly. It will take a month and a half before the indicator returns to normal limits.

An increase in ESR also occurs after surgery. It can also accompany post-shock states.

False increase in ESR

Exceeding the ESR norm is possible even without the presence of ailments in the body. There are a number of natural reasons:

taking medications containing hormones;
allergic reactions;
excessive consumption of vitamin complexes, especially vitamin A;
errors in diet;
individual characteristics of the body. Statistics show that almost 5% of the planet's population has an accelerated red blood cell sedimentation reaction;
bearing a child. In pregnant women, ESR can increase three times or more, which is not considered a pathology;
insufficient absorption of iron by the body, its deficiency;
age from 4 to 12 years. During this period, especially in boys, an increase in ESR is possible, associated with the development and formation of the body. There are no infections or inflammations.

An increase in ESR above normal in some cases accompanies certain chronic conditions. These include:

increased blood cholesterol levels;
recent hepatitis vaccination;

High levels of obesity also cause red blood cells to sediment faster than they should.

Features of increasing ESR in men and women

A slight increase in ESR was observed in approximately eight percent of men. And it is not considered a deviation from the norm. The explanation lies in the individual characteristics of a particular person’s body. The value of the indicator is influenced by lifestyle and the presence of bad habits, such as smoking and addiction to alcohol.

In the female body, an increased ESR can be explained by relatively safe reasons:

the beginning of critical days;
taking hormonal medications, in particular contraceptives;
dietary habits: following a diet containing few calories, or overeating, consuming fatty foods shortly before a blood test;
pregnancy.

Increased ESR during pregnancy

During pregnancy, processes in the female body occur in a special way. The protein composition of the blood also changes somewhat, which is reflected in the ESR.

The indicator can jump up to 45 units, and this will not indicate the manifestation of diseases.

ESR begins to gradually increase already in the tenth week of pregnancy. The highest value is usually recorded in the third trimester.

Almost a month after birth, the ESR is also elevated. The cause is anemia, which developed during pregnancy. It provokes significant blood thinning and increases the rate of red cell sedimentation.

The size of the ESR is influenced by the woman’s build. In thinner expectant mothers, the indicator increases to a greater extent than in plump women.

A month or a month and a half after the baby is born, the ESR quickly returns to normal.

But even such objective processes should not be ignored. Only a doctor can determine how normal the pregnancy is and whether everything is okay with the expectant mother.

Features of increased ESR in children

The reasons for increased ESR in children are not much different from those that are typical for adults. Most often, this symptom manifests itself as a result of:

infectious diseases, including chronic illnesses;
intoxication;
allergic reactions;
helminthiasis;
metabolic disorders;
injuries to limbs and other parts of the body.

Infectious and inflammatory processes in children manifest themselves not only by an increase in ESR. Other indicators, which are determined using a general blood test, also change. The baby's general condition worsens.

A slight increase in ESR can be explained by such non-hazardous factors as:

violation of the diet by a nursing mother: the diet contains an excess of food with a significant fat content;
taking oral medications;
The baby is teething;
There is a lack of vitamins in the body.

For parents whose children have a reading higher than the established norm, panic is contraindicated. It is necessary to carefully examine the child and establish the causes. Successful treatment of the underlying disease will help normalize the ESR in a month or a month and a half.

Treatment of elevated ESR

An increased level of ESR in itself is not a pathology, but only indicates the development of a disease in the body. Therefore, bringing the indicator back to normal is possible only after treatment of the underlying disease.

In some cases there is no need to lower it. For example, the ESR will not return to normal until:

whether the wound will heal or the broken bone will not heal;
the course of taking a certain drug will come to an end;
a child will be born in the womb.

If ESR is elevated during pregnancy, you need to think about how to prevent anemia or reduce its consequences.

Women in an “interesting” position need to take a responsible approach to their diet and follow all the recommendations prescribed by the gynecologist. The doctor may prescribe safe medications containing iron or special nutritional supplements.

In many cases, it is possible to lower the ESR to normal limits only by eliminating the inflammatory process. To determine its cause, a general blood test is not enough; a more in-depth study of the condition of the patient’s body is necessary. A general practitioner can prescribe it. He is the one who knows all the examination protocols and treatment tactics.

Medicines should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor. Self-selected medications will most likely not bring the desired result, but will only have a negative effect on internal organs and lead to unnecessary expenses.

When an elevated ESR is accompanied by a slight temperature, you can try to help the body with herbs and natural products.

In the piggy bank traditional medicine there are many useful recipes. It is recommended to cook the most ordinary beets in one of them. Properly prepared, it can lower the ESR in ten days.

You need to select three small beets, wash them thoroughly and do not remove the tails. Then the vegetables are cooked for about three hours. The resulting broth is filtered and stored in a cold place. It is enough to drink 50 grams of beetroot liquid per day. Take the decoction in the morning on an empty stomach.

Juice squeezed from beets is also a good blood cleanser. You need to drink half a glass of it before bed. Ten days of this intake will help improve blood circulation.

A product that contains lemon juice and garlic is effective. One hundred grams of the latter needs to be crushed. Then mix the resulting pulp with the juice of six to seven lemons. Place the drink in the refrigerator and take a teaspoon in the evening, diluting it with a glass of boiled water.

Freshly squeezed citrus juices are also beneficial. It is advisable to add a teaspoon of honey to them.

It happens that the examination did not reveal serious pathologies, and the ESR does not decrease. In this case, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive examinations. If negative symptoms appear, you should not leave things to chance, but seek advice. Preventive measures always give positive results and help maintain health for many years.

As you know, during a general or preventive examination it is necessary to take a blood test. It explores many different meanings. Among them is the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. You can also find another name for this analysis - ROE, where P is the reaction. Of course, it is impossible to talk about any specific disease if this indicator deviates from the norm (increases). But this is the first signal to begin a deeper study of the body.

Average ESR values

It is worth noting that the sedimentation rate depends not only on the age of the patients, but also on their gender. What indicators are considered to be the norm:

in children (the gender difference does not play a role here yet) 3-12 mm/h;
for those whose age has exceeded 75 years, the value can reach 20 mm/h;
for men 1-10 mm/h;
in women - 2-5 mm/h.

Important! In this case, mm/h means how much red blood cells drop in a period of time equal to one hour under their own weight. The process is carried out in a vertical vessel with the addition of a blood clotting agent. The latter is excluded so that the result is pure without the formation of an erythrocyte clot. In this regard, we can conclude that this indicator is influenced primarily by the composition of the plasma and the number of red blood cells, plus their usefulness.

Still, it is worth noting that in a healthy body, red blood cells, having a certain charge, repel each other. This was done specifically so that they could slip through even the narrowest capillaries. If this charge changes, then there will be no push. Taurus will simply “stick together.” The result is a sediment from which the ROE value is determined.

When you shouldn't worry about increasing red blood cell response

taking hormonal drugs, contraceptives;
lactation;
pregnancy (the increase in the indicator begins approximately from the fifth week and can reach 40 mm/h in the absence of various complications. In this case, the indicator reaches its maximum on the 3-5th day after birth. This is due to injuries during the birth of the baby);
toxicosis of varying degrees of severity;
breast-feeding;
so-called critical days (before menstruation, the ESR indicator jumps up, but by the middle of the “week” it returns to normal. This is influenced not only by hormones, but also by the difference in the protein composition of the blood on different days of the cycle).

There are also a number of features that apply to representatives of both sexes:

anemia (regardless of origin);
vaccinations and/or infectious diseases (more precisely, restoration of immunity after them);
overweight;
diet or fasting;
taking hormonal medications;
postoperative/rehabilitation period.

But in any case, the doctor must conduct additional tests, because there may be several reasons.

Important! The main reason for high ESR in the blood is a change in hormonal levels, which means that if its change is not associated with a disease, then there is no need to worry about changes in the rate of red blood cells.

“Bad” increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and its causes

In fact, there are many reasons for an increase in ESR - here are the main ones:

various infections;
inflammatory diseases;
suppurative sores;
autoimmune diseases;
neoplasms in the body;
tissue destruction;
and so on.

And now more about each of them.

Another reason for an increase in ESR in the blood can be an inflammatory process in any part of the human body. What is the reason for this? During inflammation, a change occurs in the blood plasma—more precisely, in its composition. And in this article it was already mentioned that the rate of fall/sedimentation of erythrocytes directly depends on its composition. Also, the inflammatory process can change the charge of the erythrocyte membrane, which will also lead to an increase in the rate of its sedimentation. Accordingly, the faster the disease progresses and the stronger the inflammatory process itself, the more the ESR increases. The downside is that the value cannot determine the location of the infection. It can be in the brain, and in the kidneys, for example, or even in the lymph node (and we have more than 500 of them, by the way) or the lung.

As you know, suppurative processes paint a vivid picture in analyzes and it is almost impossible not to notice them. But, like all diseases, “ulcers” have their exceptions. These include problems of people with low immunity. In this case, the onset of decay will not be determined even by the number of leukocytes - they will not go far beyond the generally accepted norm. Such ulcers include abscesses, sepsis, phlegmon or, for example, furunculosis. Only an increase in the rate of fall of red blood cells will give them away.

But autoimmune diseases greatly increase ESR. This indicator remains high for a long time and extremely slowly and “reluctantly” returns to the normal value. These include arthritis, both rheumatic and rheumatoid, thrombocytopenic purpura, scleroderma, vasculitis, lupus erythematosus and the like. The problem with these diseases is that they “reprogram” the human immune system. The body begins to confuse “good” with “bad” and actually begins to destroy its own tissues, mistaking them for foreign ones. Thus, the composition of the blood plasma changes greatly. It becomes, so to speak, inferior - it becomes oversaturated with various immune complexes. Accordingly, this increases the erythrocyte sedimentation rate itself.

We cannot ignore cancer as a cause of changes in ESR. The indicator increases slightly, but steadily. This reason becomes especially relevant in people of the older generation, starting from about 40 years old. But even earlier, this danger should not be ruled out. The presence of neoplasms (benign ones are taken into account along with malignant ones), regardless of their location in the body, has the same effect on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Exceptions include a form of cancer such as leukemia, bone marrow disease, or various forms of changes in hematopoietic tissue. Here the jump in speed will be quite high. Therefore, if there are no visible reasons for the increase in ESR, it is worth starting a full oncological examination.

Attention! You should not joke with such dangerous diseases as malignant neoplasms. If they are detected in the early stages (thanks to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate), treatment can completely destroy the cancer, or at least it will be possible to get by with mild drugs without resorting to heavy chemotherapy or surgery. But in fact, this is how you can save a person’s life without letting him “burn out like a match from illness.”

Another reason for an increase in ESR is the destruction of body tissue. In this case, the indicator will increase gradually, the stronger and more acute the problem becomes, the higher and more critical the erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be. Such dangers include myocardial infarction, burns, impaired blood supply to the extremities, and so on.

And in conclusion, we can say that self-medication with an increase in ESR is in no way acceptable.

If, for example, a person did tests “for himself” (in a private clinic, for example), then he himself, without special education and great knowledge in the medical field, will not be able to establish the cause and a specific diagnosis. You need to see a doctor urgently. Since, as described above, in most cases, the initial stages of most serious or even terrible diseases can be determined by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Don't joke with your health. It's better to entrust it to professionals. After all, it depends on how long you will live and what your last years will be like.

Erythrocytes - red blood cells - are the most important component of blood, since they perform several basic functions. functions of the circulatory system- nutritional, respiratory, protective, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to know all their properties. One of these properties is erythrocyte sedimentation rate- ESR, which is determined by a laboratory method, and the data obtained carry information about the state of the human body.

ESR is determined when donating blood for OA. There are several methods for measuring its level in the blood of an adult, but their essence is almost the same. It consists of taking a blood sample under certain temperature conditions, mixing it with an anticoagulant to prevent blood clotting and placing it in a special graduated tube, which is left in an upright position for an hour.

As a result, after time has elapsed, the sample is divided into two fractions - red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube, and a transparent plasma solution is formed on top, along the height of which the sedimentation rate is measured over a given period of time (mm/hour).

Normal ESR in the body of a healthy adult has differences depending on his age and his gender. In men it amounts to:
2-12 mm/h (up to 20 years);
2-14 mm/h (from 20 to 55 years);
2-38 mm/h (from 55 years and above).

Among women:

2-18 mm/h (up to 20 years);
2-21 mm/h (from 22 to 55 years);
2-53 mm/h (from 55 and above).

There is an error of the method (no more than 5%) that should be taken into account when determining ESR.

What causes the increase in ESR

ESR mainly depends on blood concentration albumin(protein) because decreasing its concentration leads to the fact that the speed of red blood cells changes, and therefore the speed at which they settle changes. And this happens precisely during unfavorable processes in the body, which allows the method to be used as an additional one when making a diagnosis.

To others physiological reasons for increased ESR include such as a change in blood pH - this is affected by an increase in the acidity of the blood or its alkalization, which leads to the development of alkalosis (disturbance of the acid-base balance), a decrease in blood viscosity, changes in the external shape of red cells, a decrease in their level in the blood, an increase in such blood proteins such as fibrinogen, paraprotein, α-globulin. It is these processes that lead to an increase in ESR, which means they indicate the presence of pathogenic processes in the body.

What does an elevated ESR indicate in adults?

When ESR values change, you should understand the original reason for these changes. But an increased value of this indicator does not always indicate the presence of a serious disease. So, temporary and acceptable reasons(false positive), in which it is possible to obtain inflated research data, are considered:

elderly age;
menstruation;
obesity;
strict diet, fasting;
pregnancy (sometimes it increases to 25 mm/h, as the composition of the blood changes at the protein level, and hemoglobin levels often decrease);
postpartum period;
daytime;
the entry of chemicals into the body, which affects the composition and properties of the blood;
influence of hormonal drugs;
allergic reaction of the body;
introduction of vaccination against hepatitis B;
taking vitamins of group A;
nervous overstrain.

Pathogenic reasons by which an increase in ESR is detected and which require treatment are:

severe inflammatory processes in the body, infectious lesions;
tissue destruction;
the presence of malignant cells or blood cancer;
ectopic pregnancy;
tuberculosis disease;
heart or valve infections;
endocrine system problems;
anemia;
problems with the thyroid gland;
kidney diseases;
gallbladder problems and gallstone diseases.

We should not forget about such a reason as the distorted result of the method - if the conditions of the study are violated, not only an error occurs, but also false positive or false negative results are often produced.

Diseases associated with ESR higher than normal

A clinical blood test for ESR is the most accessible, which is why it is actively used and confirms, and sometimes even establishes, the diagnosis of many diseases. Increased ESR rate of 40% cases are determined by diseases associated with infected processes in the body of an adult - tuberculosis, inflammation of the respiratory tract, viral hepatitis, urinary tract infections, the presence of fungal infections.

In 23% of cases, ESR increases in the presence of cancer cells in the body, both in the blood itself and in any other organ.

17% of people with an increased rate have rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus (a disease in which the human immune system recognizes tissue cells as foreign).

Another 8% increase in ESR is caused by inflammatory processes in other organs - the intestines, biliary organs, ENT organs, and injuries.

And only 3% of the sedimentation rate responds to kidney disease.

In all diseases, the immune system begins to actively fight pathogenic cells, which leads to an increase in the production of antibodies, and at the same time the erythrocyte sedimentation rate accelerates.

What to do to lower ESR

Before starting treatment, you should make sure that the reason for the increased ESR is not a false positive (see above), because some of these reasons are quite safe (pregnancy, menstruation, etc.). Otherwise, it is necessary to find the source of the disease and prescribe treatment. But for correct and accurate treatment, one cannot rely only on the results of determining this indicator. On the contrary, the determination of ESR is additional in nature and is carried out along with a comprehensive examination at the initial stage of treatment, especially if there are signs of a specific disease.

Basically, ESR is examined and monitored at elevated temperatures or to exclude cancer. In 2-5% of people, an increased ESR is not at all associated with the presence of any diseases or false-positive signs - it is associated with the individual characteristics of the body.

If, however, its level is greatly increased, you can use folk remedy. To do this, you need to cook the beets for 3 hours - washed, but not peeled and with tails. Then drink 50 ml of this decoction every morning on an empty stomach for 7 days. After taking another week's break, measure the ESR level again.

Do not forget that even with a full recovery, the level of this indicator may not drop for some time (up to a month, and sometimes up to 6 weeks), so there is no need to sound the alarm. And it is necessary to donate blood early in the morning and on an empty stomach for more reliable results.

Since ESR in diseases is an indicator of pathogenic processes, it can be brought back to normal only by eliminating the main focus of the lesion.

Thus, in medicine, determining the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is one of the important analyzes determination of the disease and precise treatment at the initial stage of the disease. Which is very important when serious diseases are detected, for example, a malignant tumor at an early stage of development, due to which the ESR level increases sharply, which forces doctors to pay attention to the problem. In many countries, this method has ceased to be used due to the mass of false positive reasons, but in Russia it still remains widely used.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a test used to detect inflammation in the body.

The sample is placed in an elongated thin tube, red blood cells (erythrocytes) gradually settle to the bottom, and the ESR is a measure of this settling rate.

The test can diagnose many disorders (including cancer) and is a necessary test to confirm many diagnoses.

Let's figure out what it means when the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the general blood test of an adult or child is increased or decreased, should we be afraid of such indicators and why does this happen in men and women?

Women have higher ESR values; pregnancy and the menstrual period can cause short-term deviations from the norm. In pediatrics, this test helps diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in children or.

Normal ranges may vary slightly depending on laboratory facilities. Abnormal results do not diagnose a specific disease.

Many factors such as age or medication use, can affect the final result. Drugs such as dextran, ovidone, silest, theophylline, vitamin A can increase ESR, and aspirin, warfarin, cortisone can reduce it. High/low readings only tell the doctor about the need for further examination.

False promotion

A number of conditions can affect the properties of blood, affecting the ESR value. Therefore, accurate information about the inflammatory process - the reason why the specialist prescribes a test - may be masked by the influence of these conditions.

In this case, the ESR values will be falsely elevated. These complicating factors include:

Anemia (low red blood cell count, decreased hemoglobin in serum);
Pregnancy (in the third trimester, ESR increases approximately 3 times);
Increased concentration of cholesterol (LDL, HDL, triglycerides);
Kidney problems (including acute kidney failure).

The specialist will take into account all possible internal factors when interpreting the results of the analysis.

Interpretation of results and possible reasons

What does it mean if the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the blood test of an adult or child is increased or decreased, should we be afraid of indicators that are higher than normal or lower?

High levels in blood test

Inflammation in the body provokes red blood cells to stick together (the weight of the molecule increases), which significantly increases their rate of settling to the bottom of the test tube. Increased sedimentation levels may be caused by the following:

Autoimmune diseases – Libman-Sachs disease, giant cell disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, necrotizing vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis (the immune system is the body’s defense against foreign substances. Against the background of an autoimmune process, it mistakenly attacks healthy cells and destroys body tissue);
Cancer (this can be any form of cancer, from lymphoma or multiple myeloma to bowel and liver cancer);
Chronic kidney disease (polycystic kidney disease and nephropathy);
Infection, such as pneumonia, pelvic inflammatory disease, or appendicitis;
Inflammation of joints (polymyalgia rheumatica) and blood vessels (arteritis, diabetic angiopathy of the lower extremities, retinopathy, encephalopathy);
Inflammation of the thyroid gland (diffuse toxic goiter, nodular goiter);
infections of the joints, bones, skin, or heart valves;
Too high serum fibrinogen concentrations or hypofibrinogenemia;
Pregnancy and toxicosis;
Viral infections (HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis).

Because the ESR is a nonspecific marker of inflammation foci and correlates with other causes, the results of the analysis should be taken into account together with the patient’s health history and the results of other examinations (complete blood count - extended profile, urinalysis, lipid profile).

If the sedimentation rate and the results of other tests coincide, the specialist can confirm or, conversely, exclude the suspected diagnosis.

If the only elevated indicator in the analysis is ESR (against the background of a complete absence of symptoms), the specialist cannot give an accurate answer and make a diagnosis. Besides, a normal result does not exclude disease. Moderately elevated levels may be caused by aging.

Very large numbers usually have good reasons, such as multiple myeloma or giant cell arteritis. People with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (the presence of abnormal globulins in the serum) have extremely high ESR levels, although there is no inflammation.

This video describes in more detail the norms and deviations of this indicator in the blood:

Low performance

Low sedimentation rates are generally not a problem. But may be associated with such deviations as:

A disease or condition that increases red blood cell production;
A disease or condition that increases white blood cell production;
If a patient is being treated for an inflammatory disease, the degree of sedimentation going down is a good sign and means that the patient is responding to treatment.

Low values can be caused by the following reasons:

Elevated glucose levels (in diabetics);
Polycythemia (characterized by an increased number of red blood cells);
Sickle cell anemia (a genetic disease associated with pathological changes in cell shape);
Severe liver diseases.

The reasons for the decline could be any number of factors., For example:

Pregnancy (in the 1st and 2nd trimester, ESR levels drop);
Anemia;
Menstrual period;
Medicines. Many medications can falsely lower test results, such as diuretics and medications that contain high calcium levels.

Increased data for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases

In patients with cardiac or myocardial disease, ESR is used as an additional potential indicator of coronary heart disease.

ESR used for diagnostics– (inner layer of the heart). Endocarditis develops due to the migration of bacteria or viruses from any part of the body through the blood to the heart.

If symptoms are ignored, endocarditis destroys the heart valves and leads to life-threatening complications.

To make a diagnosis of endocarditis, a specialist must prescribe a blood test. Along with high levels of sedimentation rates, endocarditis is characterized by a decrease in platelets(lack of healthy red blood cells), the patient is often also diagnosed with anemia.

Against the background of acute bacterial endocarditis, the degree of sedimentation may increase to extreme values(about 75 mm/hour) is an acute inflammatory process characterized by severe infection of the heart valves.

When diagnosing congestive heart failure ESR levels are taken into account. This is a chronic, progressive disease that affects the power of the heart muscles. Unlike regular “heart failure,” congestive heart failure refers to the stage in which excess fluid accumulates around the heart.

To diagnose the disease, in addition to physical tests (echocardiogram, MRI, stress tests), the results of a blood test are taken into account. In this case, analysis for an extended profile may indicate the presence of abnormal cells and infections(sedimentation rate will be higher than 65 mm/hour).

At myocardial infarction An increase in ESR is always provoked. The coronary arteries deliver oxygen in the blood to the heart muscle. If one of these arteries becomes blocked, part of the heart is deprived of oxygen, causing a condition called “myocardial ischemia.”

Against the background of a heart attack, ESR reaches peak values(70 mm/hour and above) for a week. Along with increased sedimentation rates, the lipid profile will show elevated levels of triglycerides, LDL, HDL and cholesterol in the serum.

A significant increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate is observed against the background acute pericarditis. This, which begins suddenly, causes blood components such as fibrin, red blood cells and white blood cells to enter the pericardial space.

Often the causes of pericarditis are obvious, such as a recent heart attack. Along with elevated ESR levels (above 70 mm/hour), an increase in urea concentration in the blood was noted as a result of renal failure.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases significantly against the background of the presence of an aortic aneurysm or . Together with high ESR values (above 70 mm/hour), blood pressure will be elevated; in patients with an aneurysm, a condition called “thick blood” is often diagnosed.

conclusions

ESR plays an important role in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The indicator appears to be elevated against the background of many acute and chronic painful conditions characterized by tissue necrosis and inflammation, and is also a sign of blood viscosity.

Elevated levels directly correlate with the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease. For high subsidence levels and suspected cardiovascular disease the patient is referred for further diagnostics, including an echocardiogram, MRI, electrocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis.

Experts use erythrocyte sedimentation rate to determine foci of inflammation in the body; measuring ESR is a convenient method of monitoring the progress of treatment of diseases accompanied by inflammation.

Accordingly, high sedimentation rates will correlate with greater disease activity and indicate the presence of possible conditions such as chronic kidney disease, infections, thyroid inflammation and even cancer, while low values indicate less active disease development and its regression.

Although sometimes even low levels correlate with the development of some diseases, for example, polycythemia or anemia. In any case, consultation with a specialist is necessary for a correct diagnosis.

Currently, medicine has broad capabilities, however, for a certain type of diagnostics, research methods developed almost a century ago have still not lost their relevance. The indicator ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), formerly called ROE (erythrocyte sedimentation reaction), has been known since 1918. Methods for measuring it have been defined since 1926 (according to Westergren) and 1935 according to Winthrop (or Wintrob) and are used to this day. A change in ESR (ROE) helps to suspect a pathological process at its very beginning, identify the cause and begin early treatment. The indicator is extremely important for assessing the health of patients. In the article, we will consider situations when people are diagnosed with elevated ESR.

ESR - what is it?

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is really a measurement of the movement of red blood cells under certain conditions, calculated in millimeters per hour. The test requires a small amount of the patient's blood - the count is included in the general analysis. It is estimated by the size of the layer of plasma (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 influence the red blood cells. It is also necessary to prevent blood clotting. In the laboratory this is done using anticoagulants.

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

Slow subsidence;
Acceleration of sedimentation (due to the formation of erythrocyte columns formed during the process of gluing together individual erythrocyte cells);
Slowing down subsidence and stopping the process completely.

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

Why does the parameter value increase?

The ESR level cannot directly indicate a pathogenic process, since the reasons for an increase in ESR are varied 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 ROE increases. Why then is analysis still widely used in medicine? The fact is that a change in ROE is observed with the slightest pathology at the very beginning of its manifestation. This allows us 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);
If myocardial infarction is suspected;
Appendicitis in the acute phase;
Angina pectoris;
Ectopic pregnancy.

Pathological increase in indicator

Increased 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. For any localization of diseases, a blood test will reveal an increase in ESR
Connective tissue diseases. ROE is high in SCS - systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic scleroderma and other similar diseases
Inflammation localized in the intestines in ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease
Malignant formations. The rate rises most highly in myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma (the analysis determines an increase in ESR in bone marrow pathology - immature red blood cells enter the bloodstream and are unable to perform their functions) or stage 4 cancer (with metastases). Measuring ROE helps evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph nodes)
Diseases accompanied by tissue necrosis (myocardial infarction, stroke, tuberculosis). About a week after tissue damage, the ROE indicator increases to its maximum
Blood diseases: anemia, anisocytosis, hemoglobinopathy
Diseases and pathologies accompanied by an increase in blood viscosity. For example, heavy 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.)

Increase above 100 mm/h

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

ARVI;
Sinusitis;
Flu;
Pneumonia;
Tuberculosis;
Bronchitis;
Cystitis;
Pyelonephritis;
Viral hepatitis;
Fungal infections;
Malignant formations.

A significant increase in the norm does not occur overnight; ESR increases for 2–3 days before reaching a level of 100 mm/h.

When an increase in ESR is not a pathology

There is no need to sound the alarm if a blood test shows an increase in the sedimentation rate of red blood cells. Why? It is important to know that the result must be assessed over time (compared with earlier blood tests) and take into account some factors that may increase the significance of the results. In addition, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation syndrome may be a hereditary feature.

ESR is always elevated:

During menstrual bleeding 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. There are known fluctuations in the ESR value during the day (in the morning it is higher than in the afternoon or in the evening and at night);
In case of chronic inflammation (even if it is a common runny nose), the presence of pimples, boils, splinters, etc., the syndrome of increased ESR can be diagnosed;
Some time after completion of treatment for a disease that can cause an increase in the indicator (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;
For allergies;
Some medications can cause this reaction in the blood;
Lack of vitamins from food.

Increased ESR level in a child

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

When breastfeeding (neglect of the mother's diet can cause accelerated red blood cell sedimentation syndrome);
Helminthiases;
The period of teething (the syndrome persists for some time before and after it);
Fear of taking the test.

Methods for determining results

There are 3 methods for manually calculating ESR:

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

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

Currently, laboratories are equipped with special devices for automated calculation of ESR. Why has automatic counting become widespread? This option is the most effective because it eliminates the human factor.

When making a diagnosis, it is necessary to evaluate the blood test as a whole; in particular, leukocytes are given great importance. With normal leukocytes, an increase in ROE may indicate residual effects after a previous illness; if low - on the viral nature of the pathology; and if it is elevated, it is bacterial.

If a person doubts the correctness of the blood tests performed, he can always double-check the results in a paid clinic. Currently, there is a technique that determines the level of CRP - C-reactive protein; it excludes the influence of external factors and indicates the human body’s response 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.