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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Sed rate; Sedimentation rate
Adults (Westergren method):
Children (Westergren method):
Note: mm/hr. = millimeters per hour
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Although it can help diagnose some illnesses, an abnormal ESR does not prove that you have a certain condition. Other tests are almost always needed.
An increased ESR rate may be due to:
The immune system helps protect the body against harmful substances. In autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. ESR is often higher than normal in people with an autoimmune disorder.
Common autoimmune disorders include:
Very high ESR levels occur with less common autoimmune disorders, including:
An increased ESR rate may be due to some infections, including:
Lower-than-normal levels occur with:
Kushner I, Ballou SP. Acute-phase reactants and the concept of inflammation. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris ED, et al, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 52.
Pisetsky DS. Laboratory testing in the rheumatic diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 278.
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