ESR

Question 1

ESR

Answer 1

= Non-specific marker of INFLAMMATION
Depends on both the size, shape and a number of RBCs and the concentration of plasma proteins such as:

• FIBRINOGEN
• ALPHA-2-GLOBULINS
• GAMMA GLOBULINS

Question 2

Causes of High ESR

Answer 2

• Temporal arteritis
• Myeloma
• Other CTDs e.g. SLE
• Other malignancies
• Infection
• Other factors which raise ESR:
  > Increasing age
  > F sex
  > Anaemia

Question 3

Causes of Low ESR

Answer 3

• Polycythaemia
• Afibrinogenaemia/ Hypofibrinogenaemia
  (lack of insufficient fibrinogenaemia)