One of my biggest problems is that I'm overtreated with Prednisone because my rheumatologists won't treat me with any biologicals because my sed rate and compliment labs are normal. My ANA is high, but the other tests are normal, even during periods of disease activity.
WHY do my sed rate and complement labs show normal? My WBC's are up to 22 and climbing and my sed rate is down to 6. Could the high WBC be accounting for the normal labs???? This is important because it influences TREATMENT!
from ehow:
About Sed Rate Blood Test Results
By Beth Celli, eHow Contributor
Sed rate or EST is the common name for an erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This blood test is drawn using a needle into a lavender stoppered tube that has the additive EDTA in it to prevent the blood sample from clotting. The Sed rate test indirectly measures inflammation in the body and is considered non specific since it can not pinpoint where in the body the inflammation is occurring. Sed rates are commonly used along with other tests to present a complete clinical picture.
1. What it Measures
a
When erythrocytes, or red blood cells, clump together to form a column like
structure it is called sedimentation. This occurs due to a change in the plasma
proteins and this usually occurs slowly since normal red cells do not form this
column or rouleaux. Sed rates actually measure the rate the red cells settle
out of anticoagulated blood in one hour. The faster the red cells settle, the
higher the sed rate result will be.
The Science Behind It
b
The test is based on the fact that inflammation causes changes in plasma
proteins that can result in the sedimentation of red cells. The protein changes
cause the red cells to clump. The clumping makes them heavier and more likely
to form the rouleaux formation when placed in a test tube in a vertical
position. It is most often used to diagnose arthritis and arteritis.
Abnormal Results
c
Abnormal results can be seen in many disorders. High sed rates are frequently
seen in infections such as pneumonia, lupus, inflammatory
diseases, certain types of cancers, heavy metal poisoning, and in
myocardial infarctions. Abnormally high levels can also be seen in rheumatoid
and other types of arthritis, hyper and hypothyroidism, gout and some types of
anemia. Obviously, a wide variety of conditions can be indicated by an elevated
erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Things that May Interfere
d
There are certain things that can negatively affect the specimen. If the sample
is left to stand for more than 24 hours, the sed rate begins to decrease.
Conversely, if the sample is refrigerated, the rate begins to increase. The
sample should be allowed to warm to room temperature before being run if it has
been refrigerated. Pregnancy, menstruation and certain drugs can also skew the
results to be high. A high white blood cell count, high blood sugar
or sickle cell anemia are just some of the conditions that can cause a very low
sed rate to occur.
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