Normal Values:

Adults (Westergren method):

• Men under 50 years old: less than 15 mm/hr
• Men over 50 years old: less than 20 mm/hr
• Women under 50 years old: less than 20 mm/hr
• Women over 50 years old: less than 30 mm/hr

Children (Westergren method):

• Newborn: 0 to 2 mm/hr
• Newborn to puberty: 3 to 13 mm/hr

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.

What abnormal results mean:

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:

• Anemia
• Cancers such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma
• Kidney disease
• Pregnancy
• Thyroid disease

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:

• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis in adults or children

Very high ESR levels occur with less common autoimmune disorders, including:

• Allergic vasculitis
• Giant cell arteritis
• Hyperfibrinogenemia (increased fibrinogen levels in the blood)
• Macroglobulinemia - primary
• Necrotizing vasculitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica

An increased ESR rate may be due to some infections, including:

• Body-wide (systemic) infection
• Bone infections
• Infection of the heart or heart valves
• Rheumatic fever
• Severe skin infections, such as erysipelas
• Tuberculosis

Lower-than-normal levels occur with:

• Congestive heart failure
• Hyperviscosity
• Hypofibrinogenemia (decreased fibrinogen levels)
• Low plasma protein (due to liver or kidney disease)
• Polycythemia
• Sickle cell anemia