What Is the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate?

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or ESR for short, refers to the rate at which red blood cells settle under certain conditions. The anticoagulated blood is placed in a small vertical glass tube. Due to the large proportion of red blood cells, it sinks naturally under the influence of gravity. Under normal circumstances, the sinking is very slow. Red blood cells usually sink at the end of the first hour. The distance to indicate the speed of red blood cell sedimentation is called ESR. The erythrocyte sedimentation value of a healthy person fluctuates within a narrow range. Many pathological conditions can significantly increase the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The red blood cell sedimentation rate is the result of the interaction of various factors.

Basic Information

Chinese name: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Foreign name: erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Abbreviation: ESR

Definition: Red blood cells settle under certain conditions
Short name: ESR
Object: Red blood cells

Clinical significance of erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Physiological acceleration

Infants, menstrual periods, 3 months of pregnancy to postpartum, etc., may not be related to the disease at this time.

2. Pathological acceleration

Acute inflammation, active tuberculosis, active phase of rheumatism, severe tissue destruction, anemia, malignant tumors, etc.

Accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation has prompt value for malignant tumors that develop faster: when the tumor is removed by surgery or chemotherapy or radiotherapy is effective, the erythrocyte sedimentation can be slowed down; when the tumor relapses or metastases, the erythrocyte sedimentation can be accelerated. Benign tumors generally do not accelerate or slow down, so you can use this project to help determine the nature of the tumor.

The speed of erythrocyte sedimentation can also help to observe changes in the condition, such as rheumatism and tuberculosis, the degree of erythrocyte sedimentation is often related to the severity of the condition. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is accelerated during the active period and slows down when the condition improves; the erythrocyte sedimentation rate during the inactive period can be restored to the reference range. Therefore, the measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation can roughly predict the development of the disease and observe the treatment effect. For example, the erythrocyte sedimentation of patients with lupus erythematosus from stable to accelerated indicates that the disease has entered the active phase, and the long-term stability within the reference range indicates that the disease has been controlled.