ESR: What It Means for Your Health
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measures how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube in one hour. During inflammation, proteins in the blood (especially fibrinogen) cause red blood cells to clump together and fall faster. ESR is a non-specific marker — it rises with many conditions — but it is useful for monitoring inflammatory diseases over time, particularly temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
Reference Range
Reference ranges may vary between laboratories, age groups, and sexes. The values shown are general adult reference ranges. Always compare your results to the specific range provided by your testing laboratory.
What Is ESR?
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measures how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube in one hour. During inflammation, proteins in the blood (especially fibrinogen) cause red blood cells to clump together and fall faster. ESR is a non-specific marker — it rises with many conditions — but it is useful for monitoring inflammatory diseases over time, particularly temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
Commonly included in:
What Does High ESR Mean?
Elevated ESR indicates inflammation but does not identify the cause. Common causes include infections, autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, vasculitis), cancer, anemia, kidney disease, and pregnancy. Very high ESR (above 100 mm/hr) is associated with serious infections, malignancy, temporal arteritis, or multiple myeloma. ESR naturally increases with age.
What Does Low ESR Mean?
Low ESR is generally normal. Very low ESR may occur with polycythemia, sickle cell disease, extreme leukocytosis, or heart failure. It is rarely clinically significant on its own.
Related Biomarkers in Inflammation & Other
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for interpretation of your blood test results and before making any health decisions.