The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
Authors: SEAD BEGANOVIC
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1987)

Letters and Corrections1 September 1987The Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateSEAD BEGANOVIC, M.D.SEAD BEGANOVIC, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-107-2-425 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: The recommendation by Drs. Sox and Liang (1) for the diagnostic use of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) calls for some comment. The authors have claimed the following: "A careful history and physical examination will generally disclose the cause of an elevated ESR. An increased ESR in the setting of a normal examination is usually transitory and is infrequently the harbinger of serious occult disease." There is no current evidence for such a statement. An increased ESR often represents symptomless abnormalities and can save patients from having their ill-defined symptoms underestimated or misjudged (2).Ford...References1. SOXLIANG HM. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate: guidelines for rational use. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:515-23. LinkGoogle Scholar2. GIBES D. Symptomless abnormalities: ESR. Br J Hosp Med. 1982;27:493-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. FORDINNESPARRISHALLANHORNMUNRO MJFNDJ. The significance of gross elevations of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in a general medical unit. Eur J Clin Invest. 1979;9:191-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. KENNYSAUNDERSCOLL RAA. A comparison of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein concentration in elderly patients. Age Ageing. 1985;14:15-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. DINARELLO C. Interleukin-1 and the pathogenesis of the acute-phase response. N Engl J Med. 1984;311:1413-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. CHESNEY T. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1986;105:469-70. LinkGoogle Scholar2. BECKCORNWELLFRENCHMEIERBRINCK-JOHNSENRAWNSLEY JGEFTH. The "iron screen": modification of standard laboratory practice with data analysis. Hum Pathol. 1981;12:118-26. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. WITTEKRAEMERJOHNSONDICKHAMILTON DDGFH. Prediction of bone marrow iron results using ferritin (FRTN), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and transferrin saturation (PSAT) [Abstract]. Am J Clin Pathol. 1985;83:266. Google Scholar4. SOXLIANG HM. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate: guidelines for rational use. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:515-23. LinkGoogle Scholar5. TINETTISCHMIDTBAUM MAJ. Use of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in chronically ill, elderly patients with a decline in health status. Am J Med. 1986;80:844-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. LILJESTRANDOLHAGEN AB. Persistently high erythrocyte sedimentation rate: diagnostic and prognostic aspects. Acta Med Scand. 1955;155:425-39. Google Scholar2. RAFNSSONBENGTSSONLENNARTSSONLINDQUISTNOPPATIBBLIN VCJOHE. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in a population sample of women, with special reference to its clinical and prognostic significance. Acta Med Scand. 1979;206:207-14. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. FORDINNESPARRISHALLANHORNMUNRO MJFNDJ. Eur J Clin Invest. 1979;9:191-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ZACHARSKIKYLE LR. Significance of extreme elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. JAMA. 1967;202:264-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. WITTEKRAEMERJOHNSONDICKHAMILTON DDGFH. Prediction of bone marrow iron findings from tests performed on peripheral blood. Am J Clin Pathol. 1985;85:202-6. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. BECKCORNWELLFRENCHMEIERBRINCK-JOHNSENRAWNSLEY JGEFTH. The "iron screen": modification of standard laboratory practice with data analysis. Hum Pathol. 1981;12:118-26. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University Medical Center Sarajevo, Yugoslavia PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByThe Nutrients – Deficiencies, Surfeits, and Food-Related DisordersIron Deficiency and Anemia of Chronic DiseaseAnemia and the transition of nomadic hunter-gatherers to a sedentary life-style: Follow-up study of a Kalahari community 1 September 1987Volume 107, Issue 3Page: 425-426KeywordsErythrocyte sedimentation rate Issue Published: 1 September 1987 PDF DownloadLoading ...