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Does anyone have knowledge of elevated ESR levels?
I recently got my blood work back and it shows an ESR level of 38. For my age I should have one of 19. ESR is also known as the westergren sedimentation rate. I have tried to do some research about it and what the elevated rate could mean but I haven't been able to find much information about it on the internet. Does anyone have any info?
1 Answer
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
The ESR is a very sensitive, but not very specific test for inflammation - this means that if you have any kind of inflammation, it will turn positive, but it doesn't tell you specifically where the inflammation is. And, depending on your daily activities, some inflammation may be totally normal (i.e. long distance runs, vigorous workouts).
Biochemically, the westergren sedimentation rate (also, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) means this: Normally, your red blood cells fall at a specific rate (under or around 19 for your age) - if there is inflammation somewhere, those cells have the tendency to get a little sticky through a variety of chemical mediators, so they stick to each other. When they stick to each other, they have a larger cumulative mass, so they fall faster (which equates to a higher sedimentation rate). You can see how this tells you there is inflammation, but not where it is coming from.
Hope this helped!