Is High Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Rheumatism?
Among the inspection indicators of patients with rheumatism, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate tends to increase. Therefore, when some people find that their erythrocyte sedimentation rate is high during the examination or physical examination, they start to be afraid and think that they have rheumatism. Is a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate rheumatism?
Conclusion: not necessarily.
Analysis of the truth:
A high erythrocyte sedimentation rate is not necessarily rheumatism. The full name of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which refers to the distance that red blood cells sink in the anticoagulated whole blood in vitro under certain conditions at the end of the first hour. Simply speaking, it is the speed of red blood cell sinking. High erythrocyte sedimentation rate refers to the rapid sinking of red blood cells, which can occur in inflammatory diseases, including rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyositis, and dermatomyositis Inflammation, etc., especially in the active stage of the disease, the increase of erythrocyte sedimentation rate is more obvious.
But not all rheumatic diseases will have an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. On the contrary, an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate cannot indicate that you have rheumatism. The following conditions will also cause increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate:
1. Physiological acceleration: seen in children under 12 years old or elderly people over 60 years old, female menstrual period, and those who are pregnant for more than 3 months.
2. Other diseases: such as acute bacterial inflammation, tuberculosis, burns, surgical trauma, organ infarction, anemia, high cholesterol, and malignant tumors.
In short, it is not possible to judge whether you have rheumatism based on the index of high erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Experts remind:
If the examination finds that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate has increased, there is no need to be too nervous. After excluding the conditions that can cause the physiological increase, consult a doctor. In addition, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is only one of the examinations for diagnosing rheumatic diseases. Generally, it has only a reference value and no absolute diagnostic value. If rheumatism is suspected, autoantibodies and imaging examinations need to be improved.