Your lab report may show: SED RATE as the line item description and provide you with a range that is acceptable for your age group; and with most lab reports, if this item is either high or low from the acceptable range.....it should be indicated. And, your doctor should discuss it with you. If s/he doesn't, then ask! Often, an elevated SED Rate may have the doctor prescribing an anti-inflammatory (either over-the-counter brands or prescription strength).
The test can be asked for individually, but I've always had this done while drawing blood to check all my other "levels" [sounds more like I'm at the auto repair shop!]. Besides.....I'm only giving them one chance to get blood for anything and everything; I only have so much I can spare!
In prior years, my SED Rate has been tested and found to be elevated to the upper 60's, which is out of normal range for my age group.....we find that either the Endometriosis I deal with or the chronic adhesions (or combination) are most likely the cause of this elevated rate. Though Lupus was "suspect" for a while; but has since been ruled out. As with any lab results, it takes you and your doctor discussing your medical history, current physical state and symptoms to gain a clear understanding of an elevated SED Rate.
This elevated level seems to drop after surgery to remove the adhesions and the endo. But, this is just my personal outcome from testing/surgery.
Everyone's results will vary. Please keep this in mind and discuss your results w/your doctor.
At Fri, 12 Apr 2002, Helen Dynda wrote:
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>ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
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>If your ESR has been elevated, please share!! IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, then it is time to request copies of your medical report and copies of your surgical and pathological reports, if you haven't already done this.
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>[]> Clinical Utility of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate - The following information is from this article:
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>http://www.aafp.org/afp/991001ap/1443.html
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>Use of the ESR as a screening test to identify patients who have serious disease is not supported by the literature.
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>An extreme elevation of the ESR is strongly associated with serious underlying disease, most often infection, collagen vascular disease or metastatic malignancy. When an increased rate is encountered with no obvious clinical explanation, the physician should repeat the test after an appropriate interval rather than pursue an exhaustive search for occult disease.
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>The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) determination is a simple and inexpensive laboratory test that is frequently ordered in clinical medicine.1-3 The test measures the distance that erythrocytes have fallen after one hour in a vertical column of anticoagulated blood under the influence of gravity. The basic factors influencing the ESR have been understood since the early part of this century; the amount of fibrinogen in the blood directly correlates with the ESR. The most satisfactory method of performing the test was introduced by Westergren in 1921.1 Although there is an enormous body of literature concerning the ESR, an elevated value remains a nonspecific finding.
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>Any condition that elevates fibrinogen (e.g., pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal failure, heart disease, collagen vascular diseases, malignancy) may also elevate the ESR.
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>Reference Ranges for the ESR in Healthy Adults:
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>Ages under 50 years...Men 0 to 15...Women 0 to 20
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>Ages over 50 years...Men 0 to 20...Women 0 to 30
-- Tracy Joslin IAS Administrator tracy.joslin@adhesions.orgNeither the IAS, Synechion, Dr. Wiseman or any other representative offers medical advice. Always consult a qualified medical professional.
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