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7 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What happens if a tube of anticoagulated blood from a healthy individual is permitted to stand for about an hour?
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Gravity will cause sedimentation of the formed elements resulting in a layer of clear plasma approximately 15mm thick on top of the tube.
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The rate of fall of formed elements in one hour is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. TRUE/FALSE
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TRUE.
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If the layer of plasma is above 15mm, what might this mean?
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In individuals that suffer with a variety of inflammatory conditions, the clear layer on top of the ESR is often between 30 and 40mm thick.
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What exactly is this increased ESR due to?
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This is due to liver secreted proteins in to the circulation. The function of these proteins is to assist the body in response to the inflammation.
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In the above scenario, is blood density changed?
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Yes. These liver proteins also cause RBCs to aggregate or cluster, resulting in an increase in blood density. Elevated ESR is a consequence of this.
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Is the ESR a specific test?
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No. It cannot identify a specific cause.
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When might the ESR be used?
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It can make an initial determination regarding inflammation as the cause of a non specific symptom such as fatigue or weakness. If positive, more specific tests are employed.
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