sedimentation rate
Definition
- Noun:
- A laboratory measurement: The sedimentation rate is a medical test that measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) fall to the bottom of a tall, thin tube over a set period, typically one hour. The result is reported in millimeters per hour (mm/hr). A faster-than-normal rate is a non-specific indicator of inflammation or other abnormal conditions in the body.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor ordered a sedimentation rate test to help diagnose the cause of the patient's persistent joint pain and fever.
- A high sedimentation rate often suggests an underlying inflammatory process, such as an infection or autoimmune disease.
- While useful, the sedimentation rate is not diagnostic for any single disease; it must be interpreted alongside other clinical findings and tests.
Advanced Usage
- "Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)": This is the full, formal name for the test. "Sedimentation rate" is a common shorthand.
- The lab report listed the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as 45 mm/hr.
Variants and Related Words
- ESR: A standard abbreviation for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate.
- Inflammation: (noun) A biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, often associated with an elevated sedimentation rate.
- Acute-phase reactant: (noun) A protein, like fibrinogen, whose plasma concentration increases during inflammation. An increase in these proteins causes red blood cells to clump together and fall faster, raising the sedimentation rate.
Synonyms
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): The full technical term.
- Sed rate: A common informal abbreviation.
Notes on Meaning
The sedimentation rate is an indirect measure. It does not identify the specific cause of inflammation but signals its likely presence. It is a classic, widely available test used to monitor disease activity in conditions like temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and rheumatoid arthritis. Factors like age, pregnancy, anemia, and kidney disease can also influence the result.
Noun
-
the rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of blood under standardized conditions; a high rate usually indicates the presence of inflammation
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