Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (906 page)

   CHF

   Typhoid and undulant fever, malarial paroxysm, trichinosis, pertussis, infectious mononucleosis, uncomplicated viral diseases

   Peptic ulcer

   Acute allergy

   Limitations

Causes of a Falsely Increased ESR

   Increased fibrinogen; increased gamma- and betaglobulins

   Drugs (dextran, penicillamine, theophylline, vitamin A, methyldopa, methysergide)

   Technical factors (e.g., hemolyzed sample, high temperature in the laboratory)

   Hypercholesterolemia

Causes of a Falsely Decreased ESR

   Abnormally shaped RBCs (sickle cells, spherocytes, acanthocytes)

   Microcytosis

   HbC disease

   Hypofibrinogenemia

   Technical factors (low temperature in the laboratory, clotted blood)