Question

In what diseases do you see an increase in ESR?

A) Hypertension and heart disease.

B) Influenza and the common cold.

C) Autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions.

D) Iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency.

Answer 1

An increase in ESR is commonly seen in autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and anemias like iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency. These involve chronic inflammation or inadequate production of healthy RBCs which trigger a heightened inflammatory response.

Step-by-step explanation:

Increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is often associated with inflammatory processes within the body. You can observe an elevated ESR in various conditions, particularly those involving inflammation or autoimmune responses.

Option C is the correct answer: Autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions frequently cause an increase in ESR. This includes diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, which leads to chronic inflammation due to an overactive immune response in the joints. In such disorders, the body produces higher levels of acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP), which contribute to the increase in ESR.

Anemias, such as iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency, may also lead to elevated ESR, reflecting the body's increased inflammatory response to the inadequate production of healthy red blood cells (RBCs). Diseases like lupus, chronic kidney diseases with decreased production of erythropoietin (EPO), and some forms of cancer can similarly cause changes in ESR.