Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate of Citrated Blood and Distribution of Plasma Proteins.

Abstract

An attempt was made to determine the relationship existing between an increased erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate (ESR) and the quantitative distribution of plasma proteins. In the venous blood of the dog it was observed that a marked increase in the ESR occurs promptly upon the establishment of a sterile abscess produced by subcutaneous administration of turpentine, which is characterized by endogenous tissue absorption. The ESR rapidly returns toward normal upon absorption, or surgical drainage of the exudate. Significant changes in the quantitative distribution of the protein fractions of the plasma were observed, incident to this type of systematic stimulation and appear to have a correlation with the various phases of the rather acute inflammatory process, as is outlined in Table I.

Following the establishment of a definite inflammatory process in the dog, an increase in plasma viscosity, presumably incident to the lesion, is associated with a somewhat increased amount of total protein, with a significant increase in the amount of circulating fibrinogen and a very much accelerated velocity of sedimentation of the erythrocytes. These changes in the amount of fibrinogen and in the ESR are of considerable magnitude and correlate closely in time of appearance and extent with the existing pathologic state experimentally induced. Changes observed in the value of the protein-quotient are not wide, fluctuate somewhat irregularly and barely suggest an increasing ratio of globulin to albumin, with progression of the induced lesion.