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"   Tests and procedures  Risks of MRI scan Stress test What&amp;#039;s a Lords procedure and an EUA?   Question I have raised ESR levels. I am otherwise healthy and have no signs of rheumatoid arthritis.  What other illnesses would show high ESR levels and what investigation is my doctor likely to do?   Answer  When blood is allowed to stand in a tube the red cells (erythrocytes) fall to the bottom.  This simple test is called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).  It is often a good indicator as to whether any inflammation is present in the body (the higher the level the more likely it is that inflammation is present) but it is not infallible.  It tends to rise with age anyway and the best thing to do with a slightly elevated ESR is nothing and then repeat it after a month.  (This advice is different to those patients with a significantly elevated ESR ie over 100 where such a level is almost always a sign of underlying significant disease).  I would therefore not be worrying too much at all here especially as you are feeling quite well.  Other tests you may want your doctor to consider in this situation include a full blood count, chest X-ray, kidney function tests, platelet tests and plasma electrophoresis. The reason why there is such a range of tests here is that should all these be clear, it is extremely unlikely that any problem exists and you can happily live with your slightly raised ESR!  Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team Last updated 02.11.2011 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/a3953/high-esr-levels/>