Why is there an increased soe. What does high blood count mean?

Although ESR is a very important indicator, most people know little about it. Some may not even know what the norm is. However, let's first find out what this indicator is.

What does SOE mean?

It's actually not a term, but an abbreviation. Complete decoding ESR is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

The study of this indicator began in 1918, when the Swedish scientist Robin Fareus discovered that in different ages and during pregnancy, as well as during various ailments, red blood cells behave differently. Later, other scientists, Westergren and Winthrop, began to work on the creation of methods for studying their behavior. Even now, this parameter is measured during the course. However, when the ESR is increased, what this means, few people understand. But you should not panic thoughtlessly from such news, too many factors can And even if you have some kind of inflammation or illness, it is likely that now you can cure them without difficulty. The main thing is to immediately contact a specialist.

What is the ESR standard?

The rate is influenced by factors such as age and gender.

The causes of increased ESR in the blood in women can also be pregnancy. But of course there are many other factors as well. The following table of ESR for women will help determine your rate (note that these indicators do not take into account the special conditions of the body, which will be discussed a little later).

Everyone under the age of 14 has the same ESR. Only age matters, therefore, if you are looking for a norm only for girls and cannot find it, then you do not need to worry.

Age is not the only criterion. Factors can be the most unexpected, for example, too heavy breakfast at best, and at worst - a malignant tumor.

If what does it mean?

There can be many reasons for this test result. But basically, doctors share 6 main reasons why women have ESR above normal:

The deviation of erythrocytes from the norm can be either an increase or a decrease. Basically, there is an increase in ESR, but there are enough cases of its decrease. There can be many factors: both poisoning, hepatitis, and simply blood pathologies. As a rule, the latter appears already in adulthood. Also, under certain conditions, vegetarianism can cause a change in the level of red blood cells.

There are three methods by which this parameter is usually monitored: Westergren, Padchenkov, Vintroba.

The most universal technique used around the world to determine the ESR is the Westergren technique. Blood from a vein is mixed with sodium citrate and left for a while (about an hour) in a test tube. The results obtained by this method are considered more accurate.

Pachenkov's method differs from the previous one only in that blood is taken from capillaries and is used only in countries former USSR. The results are the same as in the first method, but usually Westergren is more trusted.

The latter, the Wintrob method, is special in that the blood is not diluted, but an anticoagulant is added to it and analyzed in a special tube. This method has disadvantages, since if the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is too high (more than 60 mm/h), the analysis cannot be done.

What does the result of the analysis depend on?

Numerous factors can affect the activity of red blood cells, so many details are taken into account when determining the results and how they correspond to the norm. The reasons for the increased ESR in the blood in women may lie in the time of the procedure, age, lifestyle, health status and other nuances.

The index is mainly affected by:

• taking oral contraceptives;
• anemia;
• the time of the procedure;
• immunoglobulins in the body;
• allergy;
• menstruation;
• too hearty breakfast;
• inflammation.

RBCs settle due to gravity because they weigh more than plasma. By itself, the ESR will not show what the problem is, but together with other parameters, it will already be possible to make a diagnosis. Also, the analysis can help to detect hidden ailments and pathologies, due to which it will be possible to start their treatment on time. Any therapist will be able to determine a possible diagnosis with obvious other symptoms, but in some specific cases, a more detailed diagnosis will be needed.

How to return ESR to normal?

When something goes wrong in the body healthy condition, any person has a natural desire to return everything back to normal.

And how to do it? Only cure the cause, that is, the disease that caused the increase in ESR. Of course, self-treatment will not lead to anything good. Instead of looking for the necessary antibiotics and other drugs on your own on the Internet, it is better to immediately contact a specialist. It is he who will prescribe the necessary course of treatment after determining the diagnosis. After a successful cure for the disease, the ESR will return to normal after some time (2-4 weeks in adults and up to 6 weeks in children).

With anemia, iron-containing foods, proteins and some folk methods, but in this case, it is also better to consult a doctor.

If you are just dieting, fasting or experiencing a special physiological state (pregnancy, lactation, menstruation), then the indicator will return to right level as soon as your normal physical condition is established. In that case, there is nothing to worry about.

Elevated ESR in children

If you are worried about your child, then know that this indicator often increases with infectious diseases and inflammations, especially along with a violation of the norm of other blood test indicators and a general deterioration physical condition, as well as with typical symptoms of diseases. Another factor may be the use of certain drugs.

Below is a list of diseases that are characterized by an increase in ESR during the examination: infections (ARI, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, cystitis, hepatitis, fungus, cystitis, etc.), diseases of the liver, kidneys, biliary tract, anemia, tuberculosis, blood diseases, gastrointestinal -intestinal tract, of cardio-vascular system, metabolic disorders, endocrine gland dysfunction (diabetes), oncology, bleeding, trauma.

AT childhood most illnesses and ailments are more easily tolerated than in a conscious or even more old age, but only if they are detected in time. Therefore, it is very important to regularly show the child to the doctor.

Conclusion

We were able to figure out what ESR means, what is its norm, because of what there may be violations, and how not to suffer from them. Remember that only a doctor can make correct conclusions about the results of the tests.

If, after receiving the results of a blood test, you want to find out the reasons for the increased ESR in the blood in women, then first make sure that your physiological state is normal. If your body is not affected by any of the special factors listed above (fasting, pregnancy, etc.), then you should undergo a more detailed examination by a doctor. Only a specialist will be able, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body, to figure out what is wrong with you after a detailed diagnosis. That is why it is important to regularly undergo preventive examinations for the whole family, because the desire to stay healthy plays a key role. And although this factor was discovered a long time ago, it still continues to help doctors fulfill the Hippocratic oath, and ordinary mortals to enjoy a healthy life.

New methods of diagnosing and determining the causes of diseases appear in modern medicine regularly. However, the definition ESR indicator in human blood is still effective diagnostic method. It is used for the purpose of diagnosis, both in children and adults. Such a study is prescribed when contacting the doctor of a patient who is concerned about a certain disease, and during preventive examinations.

Any doctor can interpret this test. ESR belongs to the group general blood tests (UAC). If this indicator is increased, it is necessary to determine the cause of this phenomenon.

What is ESR in blood?

Those who are assigned such a study are interested in why to analyze the ESR, and what it is. So, the abbreviation SOE is the capital letters of the term " sedimentation rate of erythrocytes ". Thus, with this test it is possible to accurately determine the settling rate in blood.

red blood cells These are known to be red blood cells. When acting on them anticoagulants over a certain period, they settle at the bottom of the capillary or test tube. The time for which the blood sample taken from the patient is divided into the upper and lower layers is defined as the ESR. He is judged by his height. layer plasma , which is obtained during the study, in millimeters for 1 hour. The ESR indicator is non-specific, however, it has a high sensitivity.

If the rate of ESR in the blood is increased, this may indicate the development of various disorders in the body. So, sometimes it is an indicator of the development of infectious, oncological, rheumatological and other pathologies even before the manifestation of obvious symptoms of diseases. Accordingly, if the ESR level is normal, the doctor, if necessary, prescribes other studies.

The ESR norm for women is 3 to 15 mm / h. But it must be taken into account that this indicator also depends on age - normally it can be different for women under 30 and after 30 years. If necessary, the rate of red blood cells in the blood of women is also determined. In pregnant women, ESR increases from the fourth month. It should be borne in mind that the rate of ESR in pregnant women may vary depending on the period of gestation.

The norm of ESR in men is from 2 to 10 mm / h. AT general analysis blood also determines the red blood cells in the blood of men.

The norm of ESR in the blood in children depends on the age of the patient.

This value in the diagnostic process is important for:

• differentiation of the diagnosis and , and , and osteoarthritis and etc.);
• determining the body's response in the process of treating patients, Hodgkin's disease , rheumatoid arthritis and etc.;
• definition of a disease that is hidden (but it should be borne in mind that even normal values ESR does not exclude the development of a disease or neoplasm in the body).

Sometimes this term is referred to as ROE . The indicator of ROE in the blood and ESR are identical concepts. Speaking of ROE in the blood, we understand what it is erythrocyte sedimentation reaction . Once upon a time, this concept was used in medicine, that is, the rate of ROE in the blood for women, the rate of ROE in the blood for children, etc. were determined. Currently, this concept is considered obsolete, but any doctor understands what ROE is in a blood test, what is ROE in oncology, etc.

Diseases in which there is an increased ESR in the blood

If a patient has an elevated ESR in the blood, what this means is determined by the doctor during the diagnostic process. After all, this indicator, if you suspect the development of a certain disease, is very important for the diagnosis. A qualified doctor in the process of diagnosis takes into account not only the fact that the patient has an increased value, but also determines what the presence of other symptoms indicates. Nevertheless, this indicator is very important in many cases.

An increased ESR in the blood of a child and an adult is observed if bacterial infection - in the acute phase of a bacterial infection.

At the same time, it does not matter where exactly the infections are localized: the picture of peripheral blood will still display the inflammatory reaction.

This value is always increased in an adult if there are viral infectious diseases . From what this indicator rises specifically, the doctor determines in the process of a comprehensive examination.

Thus, we are talking about the development of a certain pathological process, if the ESR is above the norm. What this means depends on the value of the indicator. Very high values ​​- more than 100 mm / h - occur with the development of infectious diseases:

• at , pneumonia , cold , and etc.;
• at , and others urinary tract infections ;
• at fungal infection X, viral hepatitis ;
• at oncology (high rates can be observed for a long time).

In the course of development infectious disease this value does not increase rapidly, an increase is observed after 1-2 days. If the patient has recovered, then the ESR will be slightly increased for several more weeks or months. The reasons for the high ESR with normal leukocytes may indicate that the person has recently suffered a viral disease: that is, the content of leukocytes has already returned to normal, but the sedimentation rate of red cells is not yet.

The causes of increased ESR in the blood in women may be associated with pregnancy, therefore, in the process of diagnosis, the doctor must take into account these reasons for the increase in ESR in the blood of women.

An increase in ESR is a typical sign in the following diseases:

• diseases of the biliary tract and liver;
• inflammatory diseases of a purulent and septic nature ( reactive arthritis and etc.);
• blood disorders ( sickle anemia , hemoglobinopathies , anisocytosis );
• ailments in which tissue destruction and ( , heart attack , tuberculosis , malignant neoplasms);
• pathology of the endocrine glands and metabolic disorders (, diabetes , cystic fibrosis and etc.);
• malignant degeneration bone marrow, at which erythrocytes enter the blood, not ready to perform direct functions ( myeloma , );
• autoimmune diseases ( lupus erythematosus , and etc.);
• acute conditions in which the blood becomes more viscous (, bleeding , vomit , postoperative conditions and etc.).

Normal and pathological indicators of ESR

In medicine, the physiological limits of this indicator are defined, which are the norm for certain groups of people. Normal and maximum performance displayed in the table:

ESR during pregnancy

If this value is increased at , it is considered normal. The norm of ESR during pregnancy is up to 45 mm / h. With such values, the expectant mother does not need to be additionally examined and suspect the development of pathology.

Methods by which an ESR blood test is performed

Before a decoding is carried out, which means ESR in a blood test, the doctor uses a certain method for determining this indicator. It should be noted that the results of different methods differ from each other and are not comparable.

It must be taken into account before conducting an ESR blood test that the value obtained depends on several factors. The general analysis should be carried out by a specialist - a laboratory employee, using only high-quality reagents. Analysis in children, women and men is carried out on the condition that the patient has not eaten for at least 4 hours before the procedure.

What does the ESR value show in the analysis? First of all, the presence and intensity of inflammation in the body. Therefore, in the presence of deviations, patients are often prescribed biochemical analysis. Indeed, for a qualitative diagnosis, it is often necessary to find out how much a certain protein is present in the body.

ESR according to Westergren: what is it?

The described method for determining the ESR - Westergren's method — today meets the requirements of the International Committee for the Standardization of Blood Research. This technique is widely used in modern diagnostics. For such an analysis, venous blood is needed, which is mixed with sodium citrate . To measure the ESR, the tripod distance is measured, the measurement is taken from the upper border of the plasma to the upper border of the erythrocytes that have settled. The measurement is taken 1 hour after the components have been mixed.

It should be noted that if the ESR according to Westergren is increased, this means that for diagnosis given result more indicative, especially if the reaction is accelerating.

ESR according to Wintrob

essence Wintrobe method - a study of undiluted blood that has been mixed with an anticoagulant. You can interpret the desired indicator on the scale of the tube in which the blood is located. However, this method has significant disadvantage: if the rate is higher than 60 mm / h, then the results may be unreliable due to the fact that the tube is clogged with settled red blood cells.

ESR according to Panchenkov

This method involves the study of capillary blood, which is diluted with sodium citrate - 4: 1. Next, the blood is placed in a special capillary with 100 divisions for 1 hour. It should be noted that when using the Westergren and Panchenkov methods, the same results are obtained, but if the speed is increased, then the Westergren method shows higher values. Comparison of indicators - in the table below.

Currently, special automatic counters are also actively used to determine this indicator. To do this, the laboratory assistant no longer needs to dilute blood manually and keep track of the numbers.

ESR in the blood: what do certain values ​​mean?

As mentioned above, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 mm per hour are considered normal indicators of ESR for the body of a healthy man, for women the normal rate is from 2 to 15 mm / h. Therefore, for women, the value of 12, 13, 14, 15 is considered normal. However, indicators in women in adulthood can normally be 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

If the value exceeds the norm by several units, then the state of the blood can be considered relatively normal. That is, an indicator of 21, 22 in a woman can be considered acceptable, as well as values ​​of 23, 24 mm / h. When a woman is carrying a child, this value is even greater. Therefore, expectant mothers have no reason to believe with an indicator of 25 that this means something unpleasant. During pregnancy, the analysis can show 28, 29. ESR 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38 is also not evidence of the development of pathological processes in pregnant women.

This figure increases with age. Therefore, if an ESR value of 40 is noted in elderly patients, a symptom of what disease it is and what it means, the doctor determines by concomitant signs. Normal values ​​for older people are 43, 50, 52, 55 mm/h, etc. However, in young people, values ​​of 40-60 mm/h are possibly evidence of serious disorders. Therefore, after receiving the analysis data, it is necessary to consult in detail about why the ESR is 60, what it might be, and undergo further research.

low value

As a rule, the reasons for the low value of this indicator are associated with the exhaustion of the body, weight loss, taking corticosteroids, hyperhydration, muscle atrophy. Sometimes ESR is lowered in diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

What affects the ESR?

In both women and men, the level of ESR is influenced by a number of different factors, both physiological and pathological. The key factors that most influence this analysis are identified:

• When determining different methods- according to Westergren et al. - the norm of ESR in women in the blood is higher than in men. So, an ESR of 25 in a woman may be the norm. It's connected with physiological characteristics blood in women.
• What is the rate of ESR in the blood of a woman depends on whether she is pregnant. In expectant mothers, the norm is from 20 to 45 mm / h.
• A higher ESR is observed in women who take contraceptives . Under this condition, a woman can normally have an ESR of 30. What does this mean, whether there is a pathology, or is it a normal physiological indicator, should be determined by the doctor.
• In the morning, the rate at which red bodies settle is higher than in the afternoon and evening, and here differences in age do not matter.
• Signs of accelerated sedimentation are noted when exposed to acute phase proteins.
• If inflammation and an infectious process develops, the values ​​\u200b\u200bchange a day after that. how do you start leukocytosis and hyperthermia . That is, on the first day of the disease, the indicator can be 10, 14, 15 mm / h, after a day it can rise to 17, 18, 20, 27, etc.
• ESR is increased if there is a chronic focus of inflammation in the body.
• A lower value is noted at increased blood viscosity .
• The decrease in the sedimentation rate occurs under the influence of anisocytes and spherocytes, the rate becomes greater under the influence of macrocytes.

Elevated ESR in children

In the case when the ESR norm in children is exceeded, most likely, an infectious inflammatory process develops in the body. But it should be taken into account, when determining the ESR according to Panchenkov, that other indicators of the KLA are increased (or changed) in children ( and etc.). Also in children with infectious diseases worsens significantly general state. With infectious ESR diseases high in a child already on the second or third day. The indicator can be 15, 25, 30 mm / h.

If red blood cells are elevated in a child in the blood, the causes of this condition may be as follows:

• metabolic disorders ( diabetes , );
• systemic or autoimmune diseases (, rheumatoid arthritis , lupus );
• blood diseases , hemoblastosis , anemia ;
• diseases that cause tissue breakdown tuberculosis , myocardial infarctions , oncological diseases ).

It should be taken into account: if, even after recovery, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is increased, this means that the process is proceeding normally. Just normalization is slow, but about one month after the disease normal performance should recover. But if there are doubts about recovery, then you need to do a second examination.

Parents should understand that if a child has red blood cells above the norm, this means that a pathological process in the body takes place.

But sometimes, if the baby's red blood cells are slightly increased, this means that some relatively "harmless" factors are influencing:

• in infants, a slight increase in ESR may be associated with a violation of the mother's diet when;
• teething period;
• after taking medication ();
• at lack of vitamins ;
• at helminthiasis .

Thus, if red blood cells are elevated in the blood, this means that the child develops a certain disease. There is also statistics on the frequency of an increase in this value in various diseases:

• in 40% of cases, a high value indicates infectious diseases ( disease respiratory tract , tuberculosis , urinary tract diseases , viral hepatitis , fungal diseases );
• in 23% - oncological processes different organs;
• in 17% - rheumatism , systemic lupus ;
• at 8% - , inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract , pelvic organs , anemia, ENT diseases , injury , diabetes , pregnancy ;
• 3% — kidney disease .

When can an increase in ESR be considered safe?

As you know, an increase in erythrocytes in the blood, as a rule, indicates that a certain inflammatory reaction is developing in the body. But sometimes the reasons for the increase in red blood cells in women and men are not so categorical.

We are talking, first of all, about when an analysis in men and women helps to judge whether anti-allergic treatment is being carried out correctly (fluctuations in the initially elevated ESR should be taken into account). That is, if clinical effect from the drug takes place, then gradually the norm of ESR in men in the blood, as in women, will be restored.

A hearty breakfast before analysis can also increase this indicator, a strict diet, fasting can also change it.

ESR can change during menstruation, during pregnancy and after the birth of a child.

False positive ESR tests

In medicine, there is also the concept of false positive analysis. Such an analysis on ESR is considered if there are factors on which this value depends:

• anemia (morphological changes in erythrocytes do not occur);
• increase in plasma protein concentration , with the exception of fibrinogen ;
• hypercholesterolemia ;
• kidney failure ;
• obesity high degree;
• pregnancy ;
• advanced age of a person;
• introduction dextran ;
• technically incorrectly conducted research;
• reception;
• recent vaccination against hepatitis B .

What if the reasons for the increase are not identified?

If the analysis is carried out normally, but the reasons for the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate cannot be established, it is important to conduct a detailed diagnosis. Need to exclude oncological diseases , therefore, , GRA, the norm of leukocytes in women and men are determined. In the process of analysis, other indicators are also taken into account - whether the average volume of erythrocytes is increased (what this means - the doctor will explain) or the average volume of erythrocytes is reduced (what this means is also determined by the specialist). Urinalysis and many other studies are also carried out.

But there are cases when high ESR rates are a feature of the body, and it is not possible to reduce them. In this case, experts advise regular medical examinations, and if a certain symptom or syndrome appears, consult a doctor.

How to lower ESR in the blood?

The doctor will tell you in detail about how to lower this indicator with the help of medications after the study. He will prescribe a treatment regimen when the diagnosis is made. It is strongly not recommended to take medications on your own. You can try lowering it. folk remedies, which are mainly aimed at restoring normal function immune system and also for blood purification. Effective folk remedies can be considered herbal decoctions, teas with raspberries and lemon, beetroot juice, etc. How many times a day to take these funds, how much to drink, you should ask a specialist.

Looking at the results of a general blood test, any experienced doctor will be able to preliminarily assess the patient's condition. ESR is an abbreviation meaning "erythrocyte sedimentation rate". This result is included in the complete blood count, and may indicate the onset or progress inflammatory disease in body. Let's figure it out if the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is increased, what does this mean?

How do doctors determine ESR?

ESR is determined in the laboratory. The following measurement technique is common: fresh blood entering the analysis is mixed with an anticoagulant, left for an hour, and after the elapsed time, the laboratory assistant measures how many mm the blood has stratified: red blood cells - erythrocytes settle down, and the remaining components rise up.

This technique is named after the scientist who invented it - Vintroba.

In some medical institutions special automatic devices have been installed that immediately give the finished result of the ESR, without the action of a laboratory assistant.

The sedimentation rate depends on the viscosity of the blood, and hence on the temperature. Moreover, ESR depends on both body temperature and temperature. environment. Two provisions follow from this: 1) the temperature in the room in which the blood test is performed must be strictly established. 2) even temporary overheating or cooling of the body affects the ESR.

ESR norm

• neonates: 0-2.8 mm/h;
• 1 month-six months: 2-6 mm/h;
• six months to a year: 3-9 mm/h;
• year-5 years: 4-11mm/h;
• 6-14 years old: 5-12mm/h;
• over 14 years: 2-14 mm/h for girls, 1-11 mm/h for boys;

• up to 30 years: 8-16 mm / h;
• 30 to 59 years old: 8-25 mm/h;
• over 60 years: 10-50 mm/h.

• up to 60 years: 6-12 mm/h;
• over 60 years: 15-20 mm/h.

Elevated ESR in the blood: what does it mean?

Erythrocytes are also called red blood cells, they are responsible for the transfer of oxygen to all organs and tissues. red blood cells healthy person have a standard shape, size and deposition rate. If any of these indicators changes, especially significantly, the doctor will refer you for further examination in order to find out what malfunctions in the body caused such a defect.

The rate of sedimentation of red blood cells increases with acute diseases caused by bacteria and infections. However, a high ESR in the blood can be influenced by many other factors, including both the stressful state of the body and inaccurate laboratory conditions. If the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is slightly increased, you may need to do the analysis again, the second time the indicator may already be normal. ESR can be affected by:

• gender: women have more ESR than men;
• age: ESR varies with age, and there is no direct relationship between them;
• pregnancy: pregnancy can cause an increase in soy in the blood in women;
• taking contraceptives also increases the ESR;
• anemia;
• time for the analysis: in the morning, the ESR is slightly higher than in the evening. This fact works for all people, therefore, for the accuracy of the result, it is recommended to take a general blood test earlier in the day.
• increased blood viscosity slows down the rate of sedimentation;
• changes in the shape and size of erythrocytes also affect the ESR.

If ESR is elevated in the blood test, girls and women should consider the possibility of pregnancy, men should consider some diseases that cause elevated ESR, which will be discussed later.

Reasons why high ESR

The most common diseases that cause an increase in soy can be divided into several categories:

• diseases of the gallbladder and liver (stones);
• inflammation;
• purulent processes
• strokes, heart attacks;
• anisocytosis - a change in the size of red blood cells or platelets;
• sickle anemia;
• hemoglobinopathy;
• obesity;
• stress;
• postoperative period;
• intestinal obstruction;
• diarrhea;
• lupus erythematosus;
• prostatitis;
• lymphoma;
• diabetes;
• rheumatism;
• tuberculosis;
• fractures, injuries;
• malignant tumors
• myeloma.

Especially often, an inflammatory process becomes the cause of increased ESR in a blood test, however, if the deviation from the norm is significant (for example, by 40-50 units), oncology is suspected.

Since ESR is an analysis for red blood cells, it may not be influenced by leukocytes. High ESR in the blood with normal leukocytes can become a characteristic of the transferred viral disease when the level of white blood cells is already normal, and the rate of deposition of red cells has not yet returned to normal.

In the case of pregnancy, elevated ESR in the blood of women is not uncommon. In this interesting position, the ESR can reach 45 units, and there are no suspicions of pathology in this case.

If you saw an increased ESR in yourself or a loved one in the analysis, do not rush to get upset and engage in self-hypnosis. I must say that in many developed countries, the analysis of ESR is not considered among the general ones, since there are many factors that change it both in one direction and in the other. Instead, physicians in these countries examine the PSA score. So, knowing only how much elevated soy in the blood of an adult, one cannot draw any unambiguous conclusions.

Increased ESR and ROE in the general analysis mean the same thing. As we already know, ESR is responsible for the sedimentation rate, and ROE literally means "erythrocyte sedimentation reaction."
Stay healthy and donate blood regularly!

A blood test for ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate - is mandatory in the process of initial diagnosis.

This study only helps to determine the further course of medical actions. After all, whatever the results of the analysis, they are not a reliable sign of pathologies. Deviation of ESR from the norm only indirectly indicates that an inflammatory process may occur in the body or an infection develops.

The value of research on ESR

The results of the analysis are very individual. Their upward trend is due to many reasons. There is no specific disease in which ESR increases.

This indicator is considered general, non-specific, since it does not contain an answer to the question of whether a person is healthy or sick.

But studying the results of the study:

• contributes to the accelerated and timely conduct of additional tests;
• in combination with the data of other analyzes allows you to objectively assess the state of the body;
• makes it possible to make forecasts for the short term;
• in dynamics indicates the course of the disease and how correctly the therapeutic methods are chosen. Approximation of ESR to the norm certifies that the medicines and procedures prescribed by the doctor are successful and the patient is recovering.

Normative values ​​of ESR depend on the age of the person and his gender.

The average for men is in the range from 8 to 12 units (millimeters per hour), for women - from 3 to 20.

With age, ESR grows and in respectable years reaches 50 units.

Elevated ESR: growth rates

For correct diagnosis, it matters how much the ESR exceeds the norm. Depending on this, four degrees of deviations can be distinguished:

• First, which is characterized by a slight increase in ESR. The rest of the blood counts remain normal.
• Second- the results of the analysis recorded an excess of ESR by 15–29 units. This signals that there is an infectious process in the body, which so far has little effect on its general condition. Such a situation is typical for colds. If they are treated, then the ESR will return to normal in a couple of weeks.
• Third- the increase in ESR is more than 30 units. Such an increase in the indicator is considered significant and serious. As a rule, the size of the ESR indicates the development of dangerous inflammatory or necrotic processes. It can take several months to heal the disease.
• Fourth- ESR rises by 60 units or more. This situation reflects an extremely difficult and life-threatening condition of the body. Immediate and thorough treatment is required.

Causes of increased ESR

An increase in ESR may be the result of the development of one or even several diseases at the same time. They can be classified like this:

• Viral, bacterial and fungal infections. They can be relatively mild, such as SARS or acute respiratory infections. But often a serious illness develops, in which the ESR exceeds the norm several times and reaches 100 mm / h. For example:
  • viral hepatitis;
  • flu;
  • pyelonephritis;
  • pneumonia;
  • bronchitis.
• Neoplasms, both benign and malignant. ESR increases significantly, but the level of leukocytes may remain normal.

  Video recipe for the occasion:
  

  An increase in the index is more typical in the presence of single peripheral formations. Less commonly, it occurs when tumors of the lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue are present.

• Rheumatological diseases:
  • true rheumatism;
  • arthritis and arthrosis;
  • ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev's disease);
  • all systemic vasculitis;
  • diffuse connective tissue transformation: Sjögren's disease, Sharp's syndrome, systemic scleroderma and lupus erythematosus, polymyositis.
• Kidney disease and urinary tract dysfunction:
  • hydronephrosis;
  • urolithiasis disease;
  • nephroptosis (omission of the kidney);
  • pyelonephritis (more common in women);
  • glomerulonephritis.
• Blood diseases:
  • hemoglobinopathy, namely thalassemia and sickle cell anemia;
  • anisocytosis.
• The most severe conditions that are accompanied by an increase in blood viscosity:
  • intestinal obstruction;
  • diarrhea and vomiting;
  • food poisoning.

In almost 20% of cases, the cause of excess growth of ESR is poisoning of the body and rheumatological diseases. These pathologies lead to the fact that the blood becomes thicker and more viscous, and red cells begin to settle at a faster rate.

The greatest increase in ESR occurs when infectious processes are present and develop in the body. The value of the indicator does not increase immediately, but only a day or two after the onset of the disease. When the body recovers, ESR decreases slowly. It will take a month and a half before the indicator returns to normal.

An increase in ESR also occurs after surgery. It can also accompany post-shock states.

False increase in ESR

Exceeding the ESR norm is possible without the presence of ailments in the body. There are a number of natural causes:

• taking medications containing hormones;
• allergic reactions;
• excessive consumption of vitamin complexes, especially vitamin A;
• errors in the diet;
• individual characteristics of the organism. Statistics show that almost 5% of the world's population has an accelerated red blood cell sedimentation reaction;
• bearing a child. In pregnant women, ESR can grow three or more times, which is not considered a pathology;
• insufficient absorption of iron by the body, its deficiency;
• age from 4 to 12 years. During this period, especially in boys, an increase in ESR is possible, associated with the development and formation of the body. There are no infections or inflammations.

The growth of ESR in excess of the norm in some cases accompanies certain chronic conditions. These include:

• elevated blood cholesterol levels;
• recent vaccination against hepatitis;

A high degree of obesity also causes red blood cells to drop faster than they should.

Features of increasing ESR in men and women

A slight increase in ESR was noted in approximately eight percent of men. And it is not considered a deviation from the norm. The explanation lies in individual features organism of a particular person. The value of the indicator is influenced by the way of life and the presence bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol.

AT female body increased ESR can be due to relatively safe reasons:

• the beginning of critical days;
• reception hormonal drugs, in particular contraceptives;
• eating habits: following a low-calorie diet, or overeating, consuming fatty foods shortly before a blood test;
• pregnancy.

Increased ESR during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the processes in the female body occur in a special way. somewhat modified and protein composition blood, which is reflected in the ESR.

The indicator can jump up to 45 units, and this will not indicate the manifestation of diseases.

ESR begins to gradually increase as early as the tenth week of pregnancy. Highest value, as a rule, is fixed in the third trimester.

Almost a month after delivery, the ESR is also overestimated. The cause is anemia, which developed during the period of bearing the crumbs. It provokes a significant blood thinning and increases the rate of red cell sedimentation.

The size of the ESR is affected by the complexion of a woman. For thinner expectant mothers, the indicator rises to a greater extent than for puffy ladies.

A month or a half after the birth of the baby, the ESR quickly returns to normal.

But even such objective processes should not be ignored. Only a doctor can determine how normal the pregnancy is and whether everything is in order with the expectant mother.

Features of increasing ESR in children

The causes of increased ESR in babies are not much different from those that are typical for adults. Most often, this symptom manifests itself as a result of:

• infectious diseases, including chronic diseases;
• intoxication;
• allergic reactions;
• helminthiasis;
• metabolic disorders;
• injuries to limbs and other parts of the body.

Infectious-inflammatory processes in children manifest themselves not only by an increase in ESR. Other indicators, which are determined using a general blood test, also change. The general condition of the baby worsens.

A slight increase in ESR can be explained by such non-dangerous factors as:

• violation of the diet by a nursing mother: there is an excess of food with a significant content of fat in the diet;
• taking oral medications;
• the baby is teething;
• there is a lack of vitamins in the body.

Parents whose children have an indicator above the established norm are contraindicated in panic. It is necessary to carefully examine the child and establish the causes. Successful treatment of the underlying ailment will help normalize the ESR in a month or a month and a half.

Treatment of elevated ESR

An elevated level of ESR in itself is not a pathology, but only suggests the development of a disease in the body. Therefore, bringing the indicator back to normal is possible only after the treatment of the underlying disease.

In some cases, there is no need to lower it. For example, ESR will not return to normal until:

• the wound will heal or the broken bone will not heal;
• the course of taking a certain drug will come to an end;
• a child is born in the womb.

If ESR is elevated during pregnancy, it is necessary to think about how to prevent anemia or reduce its consequences.

Women in an “interesting” position need to take a responsible attitude to the diet and follow all the recommendations prescribed by the gynecologist. Your doctor may prescribe safe iron supplements or special dietary supplements.

In many cases, it is possible to lower the ESR to the limits of the norm only by eliminating the inflammatory process. To determine its cause, a general blood test is not enough, a deeper study of the patient's body condition is necessary. The doctor-therapist can appoint it. It is he who knows all the examination protocols and treatment tactics.

Medicines should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor. Self-selected drugs, most likely, will not bring the desired result, but will only have a negative impact on internal organs and lead to unnecessary spending.

When an elevated ESR is accompanied by a slight temperature, you can try to help the body with herbs and natural products.

In the piggy bank traditional medicine there are many healthy recipes. In one of them, it is recommended to cook the most ordinary beets. Properly prepared, it can lower the ESR in ten days.

It is necessary to choose three small beets, wash them thoroughly and do not remove the tails. Then the vegetables are boiled for about three hours. The resulting broth is filtered and stored in a cold place. It is enough to drink 50 grams of beet liquid per day. The decoction is taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

Juice squeezed from beets is also a good blood cleanser. It is necessary to drink it before going to bed for half a glass. Ten days of this intake will help improve blood circulation.

An effective remedy is one that contains lemon juice and garlic. One hundred grams of the latter must be crushed. Then mix the resulting slurry with the juice of six to seven lemons. Put the drink in the refrigerator and take a teaspoon in the evening, diluted with a glass of boiled water.

Freshly squeezed citrus juices are also useful. It is advisable to add a teaspoon of honey to them.

It happens that the examination did not reveal serious pathologies, and the ESR does not decrease. In this case, you need to periodically preventive examinations. When negative symptoms appear, you should not let everything take its course, but seek advice. Preventive measures always give positive results and help to maintain health for many years.

The measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the use of this indicator as a method of medical diagnosis was proposed back in 1918 by the Swedish researcher Faro. First, he was able to establish that the ESR in pregnant women is significantly higher than in non-pregnant women, and then he found that an increase in ESR indicates many diseases.

But in medical protocols blood studies, this indicator entered only decades later. First Westergren in 1926 and then Winthrop in 1935 developed methods for measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which are widely used in medicine today.

Laboratory characteristic of ESR

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate shows the ratio of plasma protein fractions. Due to the fact that the density of erythrocytes is higher than the density of plasma, they slowly settle to the bottom under the influence of gravity in the test tube. At the same time, the very speed of this process is determined by the degree of aggregation of red blood cells: the higher the level of aggregation of blood cells, the lower their resistance to friction and the higher the settling rate. As a result, a thick burgundy precipitate of erythrocytes appears in the test tube or in the capillary at the bottom, and a translucent liquid remains in the upper part.

Interestingly, in addition to the red blood cells themselves, other factors also affect the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. chemical substances included in the blood. In particular, globulins, albumins and fibrinogen are able to change the surface charge of erythrocytes, increasing their tendency to "stick together" with each other, thereby increasing the ESR.

At the same time, ESR is a non-specific laboratory indicator, according to which it is impossible to unambiguously judge the reasons for its change relative to the norm. At the same time, its high sensitivity is appreciated by physicians, who, when the erythrocyte sedimentation rate changes, have a clear signal for further examination of the patient.
The ESR is measured in millimeters per hour.

In addition to methods for measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate of Westergren and Winthrop, Panchenkov's method is also used in modern medicine. Despite some differences in these methods, the results they show are approximately the same. Let's consider all three methods of studying ESR in more detail.

The Westergren method is the most common in the world and it is he who is approved by the International Committee for the Standardization of Blood Research. This method involves the sampling of venous blood, which is combined for analysis in a ratio of 4 to 1 with sodium citrate. The diluted blood is placed in a capillary 15 centimeters long with a measuring scale on its walls, and an hour later the distance from the upper border of the settled erythrocytes to the upper border of the plasma is measured. The results of the ESR study using the Westergren method are considered as objective as possible.

The Winthrop ESR method differs in that the blood is combined with an anticoagulant (it inhibits the blood's ability to clot) and placed in a tube with a scale on which the ESR is measured. At the same time, this technique is considered indicative for high rates of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (more than 60 mm / h), since in this case the tube becomes clogged with settled blood cells.

According to Panchenkov, the study of ESR is as similar as possible to Westergren's methodology. The blood diluted with sodium citrate is placed for settling in a capillary divided by 100 units. An hour later, the ESR is measured.

At the same time, the results according to the methods of Westergren and Panchenkov are the same only in the normal state, and with an increase in ESR, the first method fixes higher rates. In modern medicine, with an increase in ESR, it is the Westergren method that is considered more accurate. Recently, automatic devices for measuring the ESR index have also appeared in modern laboratories, the operation of which actually does not require human intervention. The function of a laboratory employee is only to decipher the results.

Norms of erythrocyte sedimentation rate

The ESR indicator in the norm varies quite seriously depending on the sex and age of the person. The gradations of this standard for a healthy person are specifically indicated and for clarity we present them in the form of a table:

In some gradations of ESR norms for people aged 60 years and over, not a specific indicator is used, but a formula. In this case, in older men, the upper limit of normal is equal to age divided by two, and in women, age plus "10" divided by two. This technique is used quite rarely and only by individual laboratories. The values ​​​​of the maximum ESR norm for it can reach 36-44 mm / h and even higher rates, which by most doctors is already considered a signal of the presence of pathology and the need for medical research.

It is worth noting once again the fact that the ESR norm in a pregnant woman can seriously differ from the indicators given in the table above. In anticipation of a child, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can reach 40-50 mm / h, which in no way indicates a disease or pathology and is not a prerequisite for any further research.

Reasons for the growth of ESR

The growth of ESR can indicate dozens of different diseases and abnormalities in the body, so it is always used in combination with other laboratory studies. But at the same time, in medicine there is a certain list of groups of diseases in which the erythrocyte sedimentation rate invariably increases:

• blood disorders (particularly sickle cell anemia) irregular shape erythrocytes provokes an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which differs significantly from the normative indicators);
• infarctions and (in this case, acute-phase inflammatory proteins are adsorbed on the surface of blood cells, reducing their electrical charge);
• diseases associated with metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, obesity);
• diseases of the liver and biliary tract;
• leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma (with myeloma, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in almost all cases exceeds 90 mm / h and can reach 150 mm / h);
• malignant neoplasms.

In addition, an increase in ESR is observed in most inflammatory processes in the body, with anemia and with various infections.
Modern statistics of laboratory studies have collected enough data on the reasons for the increase in ESR, which made it possible to create a kind of "rating". The absolute leader causing the growth of ESR are infectious diseases. They account for 40 percent of the facts of detection of excess ESR. Oncological diseases and rheumatism took the second and third places of this list with the results of 23 and 17 percent. In eight percent of cases of fixation of a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, it was caused by anemia, inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract and pelvic area, diabetes, injuries and diseases of the upper respiratory tract, and in three percent of cases, elevated ESR was a signal of kidney disease.

Despite the fact that the collected statistics are quite eloquent, you should not self-diagnose yourself in terms of ESR. This can only be done by a doctor, using several laboratory tests in combination. The ESR indicator can increase very seriously, up to 90-100 mm / h, regardless of the type of disease, but in terms of the result of the study, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate cannot serve as a marker for a specific cause.

There are also prerequisites under which the growth of ESR does not reflect the development of any disease. In particular, a sharp increase in the indicator is observed in pregnant women, and a slight increase in ESR is possible with allergic reactions and even on the type of nutrition: diet or fasting lead to changes in the blood test and to some extent affect the ESR. In medicine, this group of factors is called the causes of a false positive ESR analysis and they are tried to be excluded even before the examination.
In a separate paragraph, it is worth mentioning the cases when even in-depth studies do not show the reasons for the increase in ESR. Very rarely, a constant overestimation of this indicator can be a feature of the body that has neither prerequisites nor consequences. This feature is typical for every twentieth inhabitant of the planet. But even in this case, it is recommended to be regularly examined by a doctor so as not to miss the development of any pathology.

It is also important that in most diseases, the growth of ESR does not begin immediately, but after a day, and after recovery, the restoration of this indicator to normal can last up to four weeks. This fact should be remembered by every doctor, so that after the completion of the course of treatment, the person should not be subjected to additional studies due to a residual increase in the ESR.

Reasons for the growth of ESR in a child

The body of children traditionally differs from the adult in terms of laboratory results. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is no exception, the growth of which in a child is provoked by a slightly modified list of prerequisites.

In most cases, an increased ESR in the blood of a child indicates the presence of an infectious-inflammatory process in the body. This is often confirmed by other results in the general blood test, which, together with ESR, almost immediately form a picture of the child's condition. At the same time, in a small patient, growth this indicator often accompanied by a visual deterioration of the condition: weakness, apathy, lack of appetite - a classic picture of an infectious disease with the presence of an inflammatory process.

From noncommunicable diseases, which most often provoke an increased ESR in a child, the following should be highlighted:

• pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis;
• anemia and blood diseases;
• diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
• injury.

However, if an increased ESR is found in a child, the reasons can be quite harmless. In particular, going beyond the norm of this indicator can be triggered by taking paracetamol, one of the most popular antipyretic drugs, teething in infants, the presence of worms (helminthiasis), and a deficiency of vitamins in the body. All these factors are also false positive and must be taken into account even at the stage of preparation for delivery. laboratory analysis blood.

Causes of an underestimated ESR

A low relative to the norm erythrocyte sedimentation rate is quite rare. In most cases, this situation is provoked by violations of hyperhydration (water-salt metabolism) in the body. In addition, low ESR may be a consequence of developing muscle dystrophy and liver failure. Among the non-pathological causes low rate ESR is isolated by corticosteroid use, smoking, vegetarianism, prolonged fasting and pregnancy for early dates, but there is practically no consistency in these prerequisites.
Finally, let's summarize all the information about the ESR:

• this is a non-specific indicator. Only on it it is impossible to diagnose the disease;
• an increase in ESR is not a reason for panic, but is a reason for in-depth analysis. The reasons can be both very harmless and quite serious;
• ESR is one of the few laboratory studies that is based on mechanical action, and not on a chemical reaction;
• until recently, automatic systems for measuring ESR made laboratory error the most common cause of false erythrocyte sedimentation rate analysis.

In modern medicine, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate continues to be perhaps the most popular laboratory research blood. The high sensitivity of the analysis allows doctors to clearly determine the presence of problems in the patient and prescribe further examination. The only serious drawback of this study is the strong dependence of the result on the correctness of the actions of the laboratory assistant, but with the advent of automatic systems for determining ESR, the human factor can be eliminated.