mechanism of ESR?

Question

all about erythrocyte sedementation rate

Answer 1

Here is a simplified explaination of why ESR increases as a result of inflammation.

The outside of a red cell is positively charged, generally at the same level, except in the middle of the cell (the thinnest part of the biconcave disc) where it is relatively negatively charged. This means that the there is an attraction between this negative charge and the positive charges of other red cells (opposites attract). However, under normal conditions, the positive charges around the rest of the red cell repel the other positive charges of other red cells. This repulsive force is called the Zeta potential. So in the normal state, the Zeta potential is stronger than the attractive force.
During states of inflammation, there are more immunoglobulins, proteins and acute phase reactants sent out into the blood, these are negatively charged, and reduce the overall Zeta potential, and subsequently the repulsive force. This means that the positive areas on the red cells can now get closer to the negative area of other red cells. And they do so. The nature of the shape of the red cells means that they fit quite neatly (with minimal deformity) into each other, and stack like coins. The more the inflammatory response, the higher the acute phase reactants and other proteins in the blood, and the lower the Zeta potential, the greater the attraction between the red cells, and the higher the ESR.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

The esr is a test to measure the length of time a column of blood falls in a capillary tube. It turns out that if there is inflammation it falls faster so a higher ESR. It is not specific for a particuar condition it only shows there is inflammation. When there is inflammation red blood cells actually stack up like a stack of coins and this is called rouleau. When this happens the blood will fall faster in the tube.

Answer 3

erythrocyte sedimentation rate, can be found on the web, or better yet at wikipedia.