Category
Acute phase reactants/inflammatory markers/cytokines

What It Means If Positive
* Suggestive of underlying inflammation but not specific to rheumatology.
* Most types of anemia lead to elevation of ESR.
* End stage renal disease associated with high ESR without pathologic association with systemic disease otherwise
* Slight elevations in ESR can be impacted not only by anemia and renal disease but also older age, female sex, and obesity.
* Significantly elevated ESR can be associated with giant cell arteritis, cancer, and infection

What It Means If Negative
* May reflect absence of significant ongoing inflammation; can also be due to viscosity

Of Note
CRP is a better indicator than ESR of acute inflammation