Erythrocytes in the blood and ESR

• What is red blood cells: their role and benefits
• Red blood cells: norm and abnormalities
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of ESR
• Erythrocytes in urine

Erythrocytes, or red blood cells are the mostnumerous uniform elements of blood, which play an important role in the human body.

What is red blood cells: their role and benefits ^

Erythrocytes perform many useful functions( protective, regulatory, enzymatic, nutritional) and take an active part in the formation of immunity and hemostasis.

However, the most important are the respiratory and transport functions aimed at the uninterrupted supply of cells and tissues with oxygen and the utilization of carbon dioxide from them.

This process is due to the hemoglobin protein that is part of the erythrocytes, which scientists call the most amazing substance in the world. Each erythrocyte in 2/3 consists of hemoglobin, which during the circulation of blood through the lungs connects oxygen molecules to itself and carries them throughout the body.

But on this his life-supporting role does not end. Upon entering the cell hemoglobin performs a unique gas exchange - it not only gives oxygen, but in return is saturated with spent carbon dioxide, providing normal tissue respiration and releasing the body from the products of decay.

Red blood cells: norm and abnormalities ^

The number of red blood cells in the blood( English abbreviation RBC - the number of red blood cells) is one of the most important indicators of human health, characterizing the state of hematopoiesis( formation, development and maturation of blood cells).

Therefore, the study of erythrocytes, along with leukocytes and platelets, is included in the mandatory general blood analysis( UAC), necessary for the primary diagnosis of many diseases. In a healthy person, the total content of erythrocytes, determined in 1 cc.mm blood, varies in fairly narrow limits and depends on the age, sex and place of residence.

Thus, in people living in high-altitude areas with rarefied air, the increase in red blood cells is a physiological process that does not require treatment. Temporary increase often occurs in athletes with heavy physical exertion, with severe stress, hot weather and significant dehydration.

A pathological increase in the number of erythrocytes, called erythrocytosis, occurs in blood diseases( erythremia) or in abnormalities in the respiratory or cardiovascular system with insufficient oxygen in the blood( heart failure, COPD).

The reason for lowering the number of erythrocytes( erythropenia) most often becomes:

• pregnancy( especially the last trimester);
• massive blood loss( during surgery, trauma, stomach ulcer, hemorrhoids);
• anemia, including iron deficiency;
• hereditary disorders of the structure of the erythrocyte membrane;
• toxic damage( snake bites, poisonous fungi, heavy metal salts).

Erythrocytosis and erythropenia are equally dangerous conditions requiring scrupulous examination and timely treatment.

When the number of blood cells decreases, the body lacks sufficient oxygen and develops anemia, leading to general weakness, increased fatigue, apathy, dizziness, increased heart rate, decreased efficiency. According to research of scientists, the low content of red blood cells in the vessels is one of the decisive factors of death in the elderly.

The main danger of erythrocytosis is that with excessive increase in the number of red blood cells they can stick together and lead to the formation of blood clots blocking uninterrupted blood flow. In turn, thrombi can come off, and then move along the vessels in the direction of the heart and block the movement of blood, leading to myocardial infarction and even to death.

Number of red blood cells in children and adults

The high number of erythrocytes in the blood in newborns is due to the increased need for them during fetal development. This is necessary for normal blood supply to all organs and tissues of the fetus at a relatively low concentration of oxygen in the mother's blood.

Immediately after birth, an intensive decomposition of excess red cell mass begins and their replacement with new ones. It is the intensified decay of erythrocytes in the first days of a child's life that explains the development of icterus of the skin, called physiological jaundice of newborns.

Reducing the level of erythrocytes in pregnancy( up to 3 - 4.7 x 10¹² / l) is considered physiologically normal, if this does not break their hemoglobin saturation. If, in the general analysis of the blood of a pregnant woman, a significant decrease in blood cells and hemoglobin is determined, this indicates the development of a formidable complication of pregnancy( anemia) and the need for timely treatment.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of ESR ^

ESR is an important indicator of red cell research, characterizing their ability to stick together. If normal blood cells have a negative charge and repel each other well, then in inflammatory processes the degree of their aggregation( ability to clump) and the rate of subsidence in the plasma immediately increases.

ESR is the most simple and popular laboratory test for the definition of inflammation, acute and chronic infections, as well as infarctions of internal organs. By the degree of increase in ESR, the degree of inflammation( cold, pneumonia, bronchitis, pyelonephritis, etc.) is judged - the higher it is, the more pronounced inflammatory process.

In addition, the dynamics of changes in ESR can be used to judge the reliability of the diagnosis and the effectiveness of the therapy. The norms of ESR depend on sex and age - it is higher in women and elderly people than in men and young people.

Rates of ESR in children and adults

In pregnancy, profuse menstruation, anemia, starvation, increased cholesterol, taking certain medications and oral contraceptives, there may be a moderate increase in ESR( up to 20-30 mm / h).If the increase occurs sharply( more than 60 mm / h), this may indicate the development of various septic processes, malignant tumors, leukemia, autoimmune diseases.

Reduced ESR occurs in the following cases:

• in conditions characterized by an increase in blood viscosity,
• acidosis,
• lack of blood circulation,
• muscle loss,
• vegetarian diets,
• significant increase in leukocyte count,
• hepatitis,
• leukocytosis,
• DIC syndrome.

Erythrocytes in urine ^

Normally, the number of erythrocytes in urine in adults, children and pregnant women is very low and amounts to no more than 0-2 units in the total urine analysis, in the urinary sediment of Nechiporenko up to 1000 in 1 liter. Individual quantities may appear after prolonged standing on the legs or heavy physical exertion.

Detection of erythrocytes in the urine, called hematuria, requires mandatory treatment to the doctor, since it indicates the presence of any pathologies of the urinary tract. Hematuria can be microscopic, in which the signs of blood in the urine are detected only under a microscope( and is often detected by chance) and macroscopic when they are visible to the naked eye and urine acquires a reddish-brown color.

The main causes of increased erythrocytes in urine:

• kidney disease( glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis);
• diseases of the bladder and urethra( urethritis, cystitis), which are characterized by fever, painful urination, abdominal pain, an admixture of blood in the urine;
• urolithiasis accompanied by attacks of renal colic and staining of urine with blood at the exit of large stones;
• diseases of the prostate gland( adenoma) with prolonged and increasing difficulty of the process of urination;
• is a kidney tumor that has been asymptomatic for a long time.

Intensity of bleeding is determined by the number of erythrocytes. The presence in the urine of a protein, which should normally not be, indicates inflammation of the kidneys or urinary tract.

Because the blood source in the urine can be located in any part of the urogenital tract, the physician can additionally assign a cytological examination, a radiography of the kidneys and ureters, cystoscopy, pyelography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography for more complete diagnosis.

We advise you to familiarize yourself with the video about the appointment and unique work of red blood cells in the blood: