Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

(ESR)

• Rate at which red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle out of plasma in 1 hour

  • related to 'stickyness' of erythrocytes

• Non-specific marker for inflammation

• Increased by increased levels of acute phase proteins

  • Fibrinogen

  • Immunoglobulins

  • C-reactive protein /IL-6

  • Factor VIII

• Normal range increases with age

Causes of increase

• Inflammation

• infections

• malignancy

• anaemia

• pregnancy

Increase >100 mm/hr

• Myeloma (due to paraprotein)
• Temporal arteritis
• tuberculosis

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