What causes the sedimentation rate to rise?

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a laboratory test that a doctor might request to measure the level of inflammation in the body. It does this by measuring how quickly red blood cells fall and settle at the bottom of a test tube. So, what causes the sedimentation rate to rise? Continue reading to find out. 

What causes the sedimentation rate to rise?

The sedimentation rate is elevated when a person has a health condition or disease that causes inflammation in the body. However, it can also be associated with other health issues. So, when we ask, "What causes the sedimentation rate to be high?" the answer includes the following health conditions:

• Common Conditions

Some common conditions associated with a high sedimentation rate include:

• Systemic or localized inflammatory and infectious diseases.
• Blood or vascular diseases.
• Vasculitis.
• Heart diseases.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Kidney diseases.
• Anemia.
• Diabetes.
• Physical trauma.
• Tissue injury or ischemia.
• Thyroid diseases.
• Certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

• Autoimmune Diseases

Another answer to "What causes the sedimentation rate to be high?" is the presence of autoimmune diseases, including:

• Certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Lupus.
• Allergic or necrotizing vasculitis.
• Temporal arteritis, a condition where the temporal artery becomes inflamed or damaged.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica, a condition that causes muscle and joint pain.
• Hyperfibrinogenemia, a condition with an excessive amount of fibrinogen protein in the blood.
• Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, a type of cancer affecting white blood cells.

• Certain Infections

Certain infections also cause a high sedimentation rate, including:

• Bone infections.
• Systemic infections.
• Tuberculosis.
• Skin infections.
• Rheumatic fever.
• Heart infections, including myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), pericarditis (inflammation affecting the tissues around the heart), and endocarditis (inflammation affecting the lining of the heart).

It’s important to note that while a high sedimentation rate indicates inflammation in the body, it does not confirm or rule out any specific diseases or conditions. It will not enable the doctor to diagnose a condition precisely. This test only shows whether there is inflammation in the body or not, and further tests and analyses may be required for a precise diagnosis.

What Are the Normal and Abnormal Values for ESR?

The normal values for the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) vary depending on age and gender. They are as follows:

What Factors Can Affect the Test Results?

Certain conditions and medications can influence the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and potentially lead to inaccurate results, such as:

• Age: ESR values can be affected in older adults.
• Anemia: Can alter ESR results.
• Obesity: May influence the sedimentation rate.
• Pregnancy or Menstrual Cycle: Both can impact the ESR.
• Medications: Some drugs, such as birth control pills, methyldopa, theophylline, vitamin A, corticosteroids, and quinine, can affect the results.

Finally, you can perform an ESR test provided by Blazma, which requires no prior preparation.