ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test Definition The distance

(ESR) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test

Definition The distance sediments by RBCs in a vertical blood column at the end of one or two hours.

• 2 ml of blood + 0. 5 ml Na citrate. • Graduated vertical tube (0 -200 m ml) from top to bottom. • The height of the column of clear plasma at the top of the red column in Westergren’s tube is noted at end of 1 hour & again at end of 2 hours.

• 1 st hour • Male • Female 2 nd hour 5 10 8 m ml 16 m ml

↑ESR • Physiological : female (mrnstruation & pregnancy), after exercise & increased temperature. • Pathological: • Tissue destruction (inflammation, rheumatic fever & malignant tumors). • Introduction of foreign (vaccination).

Mechanism • ↑ fibrinogen & globulin→ ↓ negative charge (↓repel) → aggregation and stick of RBCs → rouleax → more rapid sedimentation. • So formation of rouleax depend on plasma proteins. • N. B: ↓ albumin → ↑ESR

Clinical significance � Prognostic NOT diagnostic � Not specific � The effect of treatment & progress of disease (improving, not effect or complication). � The severity of disease. � The activity of disease (T. B or rheumatic fever show periods of activity & periods of rest). � Diagnosis of pelvic swelling in female (in malignant ↑ while in benign is normal). �