Blood washes all organs and systems, therefore, first of all, it reflects anomalies occurring in the body. A general blood test 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 a blood test, I would like to know many people who go to the doctor about various diseases. ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) directly depends on the composition of protein molecules in plasma.
How is the analysis done?
In laboratory conditions, blood with the addition of anti-clotting drugs is placed in a narrow and tall test tube. Within an hour, red blood cells begin to sink under their own weight to the bottom, leaving blood plasma on top - a yellowish liquid. Measuring its level allows you to determine the rate of settling in mm / h.
Why is this indicator needed?
Every doctor who treats inflammatory diseases knows what ESR is in a blood test and what factors affect it. The sedimentation rate of red blood cells may rise and fall, which will indicatebody reactions. Red blood cells move down faster when other large molecules appear - immunoglobulins or fibrinogen. These proteins are produced during the first two days of infection. Just then, the ESR indicator begins to grow, reaching a peak value by the 12-14th day of illness. If at this level there was an increase in the number of leukocytes, it means that the body is actively fighting microbes.
Increase or decrease settling rate
You can find out what ESR is in a blood test, why the indicator may increase, at the appointment of your doctor. 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. Most often, the reason for the acceleration of ESR is precisely such processes as:
- Purulent inflammatory (tonsillitis, lesions of bones, uterine appendages).
- Infectious diseases.
- Malignant tumors.
- Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis).
- Thrombosis.
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- Anemia and blood cancer.
- Diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, goiter).
Pregnancy can be a harmless cause of a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
You can also find out from the doctor what ESR is in a blood test when the indicator slows down against the background:
- Peptic ulcer.
- Hepatitis.
- Erythrocytosis true (chronic leukemia) and caused by insufficient intakeoxygen to cells (diseases of the heart, lungs).
- Muscular dystrophy.
- 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 a blood test remains undeciphered. Then you need to consult a doctor with a question about what is ROE in a blood test (an outdated name for ESR).
A level of up to 30 mm per hour is a manifestation of sinusitis, otitis, inflammation of the female genital organs, prostatitis, pyelonephritis. Most likely, the disease is in a chronic stage, but requires medical supervision.
A level above 40 mm per hour is a reason for a large-scale examination, since the value indicates serious infections, metabolic disorders, blood and immune functions, and foci of purulent lesions.
