QuestionMy ESR is extremely elevated at 110, in april it was only 24. I am battling a fever, sinus infection, and bronchitis but I heard they do no effect test. I am worried that it is cancer, either Mylemoa, Leukemia, or Lymphoma. My cbc also showed High Neutrophils and Low Lymphocytes, just slightly out of range for both of them. I do have horrible neck pain, which is caused by poor posture but I doubt that it is temporal arthritis. I read one study that extreme ESR over 100 always points to malignancy or arthritis. I am only 28 with a wife and kid and I am scared to death.
AnswerHi, David. I don't know where you're reading this study about ESR always being an indicator of cancer, but it's wrong! Cancer is only one of many, many causes of a high ESR. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a measure of the degree of inflammation present in the body. It actually measures the rate of fall (sedimentation) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in a sample of blood that has been placed into a tall, thin, vertical tube. Results are reported in millimeters of clear plasma that are present at the top portion of the tube after one hour.ESR is said to be nonspecific because increased results do not tell the doctor exactly where the inflammation is in the body or what is causing it, and also because it can be affected by other conditions besides inflammation. For this reason, the ESR is typically used in conjunction with other tests. A single elevated ESR, without any symptoms of a specific disease, will usually not give the physician enough information to make a medical decision. Your fever, sinus infection, and bronchitis are most likely the reason for our elevated ESR (and also for your high neutrophils/low lymphocytes). I would recommend that you get your ESR re-checked in a few weeks after your infection clears up. If it's still elevated then, your doctor can do further testing to determine the cause for this.
Samantha
