erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR)

 erythrocyte sedimentation 

definition:-

measure of supernatant plasma collected in mm at the end of 1 hour

  • normal value:- 1-4 mm at the end of 1hr
    • in female - 4-7 mm at the end of 1 hr 
    • in new born 0-5 -1 mm at the end of 1 hr
  • variation:
    • physiological:-
    • male -less
    • female - more
    • higher altitude decreases
    • pregnant increases.
  • pathological variation:-
    • anemia increases
    • polycythemia decreases
    • rheumatoid arthritis 
    • malignant tumor increases
    • malaria ,tumour increases
  • factors affecting ESR:-
    • i)rouleaux formation (piling of RBC )
    • viscosity -increases ESR
    • cholestrol -ESR increases
    • plasma protein-fibrinogen globin -increases ESR
  • Significance:-
  • ESR  is a prognostic value (progress after treatment)not a diagnostic value

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