The test for the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation( ESR) is accepted in medicine all over the world as mandatory in the conduct of a general blood test.
It is carried out in the diagnosis of any diseases, as well as during clinical examinations and preventive examinations. In women, the norm of soy is 2-15 mm for one hour, for men the norm is 2-10 mm for one hour, in children the indices depend on age.
If ESR in the blood test is normal, this indicates the absence of a pronounced inflammatory process in the body. However, this indicator is not the only, and not the most important, in setting the right diagnosis. To correctly decipher the results of the analysis, it is necessary to take into account the number of leukocytes, the leukocyte formula of blood, the c-reactive protein. The number of red blood cells, their qualitative composition, can affect the index of ESR.
In this article we will consider the norm of ESR in the blood of women, men and children in the form of a table, and also pay attention to the indicators of ESR after 40, 50 and 60 years.
Why is SOE
explored? What is it? ESR is a nonspecific high-sensitivity test that identifies the presence or absence of an inflammatory process in the body, but not specifically its cause.
Measurement of the test for erythrocyte sedimentation rate is performed as part of a general blood test to identify the causes of the symptoms with an unclear etiology( for example, unexplained fever), the definition of certain types of arthritis and other diseases with unobvious symptoms.
The specific mass of red blood cells is higher than the specific mass of the plasma, so red blood cells slowly settle to the bottom of the tube during analysis. The rate of subsidence depends on the degree of aggregation of erythrocytes, which is determined by the protein composition and electrical properties of the plasma.
Blood sampling for examination occurs, as usual, in the morning on an empty stomach. I do not need any special training. But in cases when inflammation is detected, blood can be taken in the afternoon after a meal to track the dynamics.
What is the rate of ESR in the blood?
The measuring unit determining the level of ESR is the distance over which red blood cells descend to the bottom of the tube( millimeters / hour).When erythrocytes go down faster, it means that the body's response to inflammation is stronger, which means that the inflammation itself is more serious.
The norm of ESR in the blood of in children and adults is presented in the table:
- For women, the ESR should be from 3 to 15 mm / h.
- In men from 2 to 10 mm / h.
- In children up to 6 months from 12 to 17 mm / h.
- Infants from 0 to 2 mm / h.
- In pregnant women from 20 to 25 mm / h. In this case, everything depends on how the blood is diluted against the background of how anemia develops.
Initially, this process is influenced by those indicators that are included in the formula for clinical blood analysis.
Primarily, ESR levels are affected by the level of erythrocytes, their shape changes, the decrease / increase in pigments and bile acids, and the concentration of albumins. Also, this parameter is affected by the dilution of blood or increase in its viscosity, the importance of acidification of blood, which provokes the development of acidosis.
ESR rate in women
In a healthy woman, ESR varies between 10-18 mm / h. The average level is 12 mm / h. After 50 years, slightly increases and is 15 mm / h. The norm at this age is the value of 14-25 mm / h.
In pregnancy from the beginning of the second trimester, ESR begins to grow steadily and reaches its maximum for childbirth( up to 55 mm / h, which is considered to be absolutely normal).To its former indices, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation returns after birth in about three weeks.
The rate of ESR in men
In men, the rate of gluing and sedimentation of red blood cells is slightly less: in the analysis of the blood of a healthy male, the ESR varies within the range of 8-10 mm / h. However, in men older than 60 years, the value is slightly higher. At this age, the average parameter in men is 20 mm / h.
A difference of 30 mm / h is considered a deviation in men of this age group, although for women this figure, although slightly overestimated, does not require increased attention, and is not considered a sign of pathology.
ESR rate in children
Small inhabitants of the planet deserve our close attention, namely our children. The indicator changes slightly during their life and growing up. For example, in the first month of life it is 2-30 mm / h, from year to six it varies in the range 1-12 mm / h. After 7 years there is a gradual change in the data, and by the age of 8 the indicators correspond to the level of the adult person.
Causes of increased ESR
Increased or decreased ESR in the results of a common blood test - not a reason to panic. The increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is most often due to a cold or a viral infection or flu. This indicator will come back to normal almost immediately after recovery. Among the reasons, against which the ESR in the blood rises, in addition to the common cold and the like are:
- trauma and fractures in the recent past;
- postoperative period;
- collagenoses;
- rheumatoid polyarthritis;
- anemia;
- pneumonia, rheumatism, syphilis, tuberculosis, sepsis;
- the presence of tumors;
- diabetes, thyrotoxicosis;
- intoxication of the body;
- problems with kidney or liver.
- very sharp increase in ESR up to 60-80 mm / h is typical for myeloma, lymphosarcoma and other tumors.
In addition to diseases, if the indicators of ESR are too high, it is possible that the cause lies in the diet. So, starvation, malnutrition and even a hearty meal before giving an analysis can show an overestimated ESR.Therefore, if you have any abnormalities, it is advisable to pass the analysis again. Also, the blood test for ESR can be higher than normal if you are in a period of menstruation, are allergic or in the postpartum period.
Causes of decreased ESR in the blood
Reduction in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation can be for the following reasons:
- with increasing blood viscosity;
- with an increased number of erythrocytes in the blood;
- with an increase in the number of albumins in the blood;
- with increasing pigments of bile and its acids in the blood;
- with a decrease in the pH level in the blood, that is, with the development of acidosis;
- for the formation of erythrocytes.
Knowing these reasons for the reduction of ESR, it is understandable to change this indicator for certain conditions or diseases, namely:
- with erythrocytosis and erythremia;
- with neuroses;
- for hypofibrinogenemia, hyperalbuminemia and hypoglobulinemia;
- with severe circulatory failure;
- with spherocytosis, hemoglobinopathy, anisocytosis and sickle cell anemia;
- for epilepsy.
It should be remembered that the sedimentation rate of red blood cells is just one of many integrated blood indicators, and changing only one of this indicator can not indicate the presence of a pathological process in the body.