What does it mean if the Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is 44mm and what type of an infection can it cause?

Answer 1

ESR is a nonspecific test to determine whether or not you have an infection the values are not so important all we need to know is that the ESR was raised. This means that in a test tube the speed at which the blood cells are clumping or sedimenting is faster than normal. This increased rate of sedimentation is caused by proteins released into the blood by the liver once the liver finds out an infection is taking place. These acute phase response proteins increase the ESR and then Doctors/Pharmacists/Nurses/other health care professionals can use blood samples to quickly see if anyting is wrong. Once they see that the ESR is raised then they know that further tests are needed to find out whats wrong. Note ESR for Women should be bellow 20mm/hr (for under 50 yo women) or 30mm/hr (for over 50 yo women) and for Men it should be 15mm/hr under 50 or 20mm/hr over 50 54mm/hr is quite high but just tells you that an infection is taking place in the body.