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"ESR Is Related To RBC Destruction" Not Correct. ESR Has

ESR measures the rate at which red blood cells (RBCs) settle in a tube, which is influenced by inflammation that increases fibrinogen and other proteins, causing RBCs to clump together and fall faster. It is important to note that ESR is not related to RBC destruction or count directly, but rather to RBC aggregation. Anemia can also lead to an increased ESR due to less crowding of RBCs, facilitating easier settling.

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Asrujith Sudheer
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6 views3 pages

"ESR Is Related To RBC Destruction" Not Correct. ESR Has

ESR measures the rate at which red blood cells (RBCs) settle in a tube, which is influenced by inflammation that increases fibrinogen and other proteins, causing RBCs to clump together and fall faster. It is important to note that ESR is not related to RBC destruction or count directly, but rather to RBC aggregation. Anemia can also lead to an increased ESR due to less crowding of RBCs, facilitating easier settling.

Uploaded by

Asrujith Sudheer
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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ESR
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Your Current Thought

“ESR is related to RBC destruction”

Not correct.

ESR has nothing to do with RBC destruction.

What ESR actually measures

ESR = how fast RBCs settle (fall) in a vertical tube in 1 hour

Build from first principles

Normal situation
• RBCs are negatively charged
• So they repel each other
• They stay separate

Result:
• Fall slowly
• ESR = low

During inflammation (RA, infections etc.)

Liver produces acute phase proteins:


• Fibrinogen (MOST IMPORTANT)
• CRP
• Globulins

What these proteins do


They reduce negative charge on RBCs

So:
• RBCs stick together → form stacks (rouleaux formation)

Now physics changes


• Clumped RBCs = heavier + larger mass
• So they fall faster

ESR ↑

So the REAL mechanism

Inflammation → ↑ fibrinogen → RBCs stick → fall faster → ESR ↑

Why anemia also increases ESR

Less RBCs → less crowding → easier settling

So ESR also ↑ in anemia

Important correction

ESR is:
• NOT about RBC destruction
• NOT about RBC count directly

It is about:

RBC aggregation (clumping ability)

⸻
Final Exam Line

ESR increases in inflammation due to increased fibrinogen and other acute


phase proteins causing rouleaux formation and faster sedimentation of
RBCs.

Memory Trick

“Sticky RBCs fall faster”

If you want next:


I can give you ESR vs CRP difference (very high-yield exam + viva trap)

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