ESR

 What is ESR?

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) is a blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube in one hour.
It is a non-specific marker of inflammation in the body. The faster the cells fall, the more likely there is inflammation present.

​

👥 Who Should Get an ESR Test?

• People with unexplained fatigue, chronic fever, or weight loss

• Patients suspected of having inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, such as:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • Vasculitis

• To track response to treatment in inflammatory conditions

• As part of a general health evaluation when inflammation is suspected

​

​

📏 Reference Range:

• Men: 0–15 mm/hr

• Women: 0–20 mm/hr
  (Values may vary slightly by lab and age)

​

📈 If ESR is High:

🔥 Chronic or acute inflammation

🦴 Autoimmune diseases (e.g., RA, lupus)

🧫 Infections (especially chronic ones)

🎗️ Cancer (especially multiple myeloma or lymphoma)

🩺 Kidney disease or anemia

​

​

📉 If ESR is Low:

🩸 Polycythemia vera (too many red blood cells)

🧬 Sickle cell anemia

❄️ Extreme leukocytosis (high white blood cell count)

💊 Use of certain medications (e.g., corticosteroids, NSAIDs)