The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and stress.
The effect of a 75-hour vigil on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), i.a., was studied in two experiments with 63 healthy male volunteers. The ESR was increased at the end of the vigil compared with pre-exposure values. The increases did not correlate significantly with concomitant changes in serum triglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesterol or gammaglobulins, except for a significant, negative correlation with cholesterol changes in one of the two studies. Although the mechanism for the increases in ESR in response to stressor exposure remains unclear, it is concluded that when using the ESR in clinical practice, allowance should be made for situational factors such as the patient having experienced some stressful days and sleepless nights.