WBC, anemia, & sed rate

[Txarmywife]

My GI NP called saying my labs came back with high white blood count, anemic, and high sed rate. Is this normal for a flare?

 

[Manzyb]

I've always been anemic when tested, which is usually while flaring, and sed rate is always high during a flare also. Not sure about the WBC, but i think that is usually high when there is an infection present?

Did they tell you what your sed rate was?

 

[Txarmywife]

No didn't tell me the actual numbers. Just said labs came back abnormal so I asked which ones did and she said the above. It's unusual as I usually never show markers for anything which has been part of the problem.

 

[wolfem]

I was anemic, had a high WBC and sed rate at one point. To my knowledge anemia and sed rate could indicate inflammation. Also, c-reactive protein is usually high as well. High WBC could indicate infection.

However, I would consult your doctor. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

 

[kllyeve]

If you are anemic, the sed rate will be high from that. Sedimentation Rate or ESR measures how far RBC's fall through the plasma in a given time period, usually an hour. So if you have fewer RBC due to anemia they have farther they can fall because there are less of them present.