title: Determinants of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the era of microinflammation: excluding subjects with elevated C-reactive protein levels.
abstract: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be used to identify low-grade inflammation that contributes to future vascular events. ESR determinants, however, have not been explored in the absence of a subclinical or microinflammatory response. The ESR was determined in a large cohort of apparently healthy participants, excluding subjects with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations more than 5 mg/L (47.62 nmol/L). Linear regression models were used to identify the determinants of the ESR. The study population comprised 6,237 subjects. The main laboratory variables found to affect ESR were levels of fibrinogen, hemoglobin, globulin, and triglycerides (all P < .001; R2 = 0.34 and 0.44 for men and women, respectively). Sex was found to affect ESR alone and in combined interactions with most other variables. Age did not affect ESR. The main determinants of ESR in an inflammation-free cohort are sex and levels of fibrinogen, hemoglobin, globulins, and triglycerides.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Internal Medicine D, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinvil
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arbel
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Justo
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berliner
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rogowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005916:Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005916:Globulins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014280:Triglycerides; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein