The Sed Rate is a non-specific indicator of a wide variety of inflammatory
conditions. Factors such as hemoglobin, red cell volume, immunoglobin
concentration, red cell charge, etc. influence the rate. With so many
physiologic variables it is difficult to use the ESR to diagnose any
specifc disease. Rather, it may be used to determine the presence of an
inflammatory process. If a specific pathologic process has been
previously diagnosed the ESR can be used to some extent to measure disease
progress.
