What factors affect the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation?

Erythrocyte sedimentation, also known as Bernacki's reaction or ESR, is a hematological test that may indicate that inflammation occurs somewhere in the body, although doctors cannot tell what causes inflammation. The ESR test measures how fast red blood cells or erythrocytes drop to the bottom of the blood tube. Erythrocyte sedimentation levels may increase due to infection, arthritis, burns, cancer and heart attack. Layers may drop to diseases such as heart failure or certain blood disorders, including sickle cells. Other factors that may affect the level of erythrocyte sedimentation include drugs, age, pregnancy and menstrual cycle.

erythrocyte sedimentation varies according to whether a person is a man or a woman; The values ​​also tend to be higher in the elderly. The ESR test is not completely reliable, as the result is affected by any abnormalities in red blood cells, the percentage of red articles of the atement and the length of time taken before the sample analysis. For this reason, the SPO is usually performedlu with other tests to provide a wider picture. While the increased degree of erythrocyte sedimentation often indicates inflammation, normal ESR cannot be considered that the person is definitely fine, because some individuals with inflammatory disease may not experience an increase in ESR levels.

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ESR test is carried out by placing a blood sample in the tube along with a substance that prevents clotting. During the lesson, the red blood cells are immersed on the lower end of the tube and creating what is called sediment, and a clear liquid known as blood plasma remains above. After one hour, the distance of the cells under the upper part of the clear fluid is measured to provide the ESR level. Inflammation in the body often causes protein release into the blood, which can cause a red blod more sticky cell. Adhesive cells are more likely to clump together, which increases the speed at which they sink to the bottom of the tube and cause the erytr sedimentation levels to increaseoctures.

Inflammatory diseases known to increase erythrocyte sedimentation levels include infections such as tuberculosis and inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, time arteritis and polymyalgic reumatica are conditions that can cause elevated ESR values. In the early stages of heart attack, erythrocyte sedimentation levels may increase. Conditions causing lower levels include polycythemic blood disorders, where an abnormally high number of red blood cells accumulate at the bottom of the tube, reducing the height of pure liquid above. Although the ESR is not the best inflammation test, it has remained in use because it is easy to perform.