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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
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Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: A Physics-Driven Characterization in a Medical Context
Published on: March 24, 2023
Higher Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is Associated with Accelerated White Matter Lesion Progression
Anshum A Patel1, Hans Mautong2, Sai K Vallamchetla1
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.
Summary
Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is linked to faster white matter lesion (WML) progression in adults. This suggests systemic inflammation may drive the worsening of cerebral small vessel disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Inflammation research
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a non-specific marker of systemic inflammation.
- White matter lesions (WMLs) on MRI indicate chronic microvascular ischemia.
- Inflammation is suspected to play a role in WML pathogenesis and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between ESR levels and the progression of WMLs.
- To determine if higher ESR predicts increased WML volume change over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1377 patients (≥40 years) with serial brain MRIs.
- ESR levels were stratified into quartiles; high ESR was defined as >23 mm/hr.
- Linear regression models assessed the association between ESR and annualized WML volume change.
Main Results:
- Patients with high ESR showed a faster annual rate of WML progression (0.93 cc/year) compared to those with low ESR (0.76 cc/year).
- High ESR was significantly associated with greater WML progression in univariate analysis.
- Even after multivariable adjustment, upper-quartile ESR independently predicted greater annualized WML progression (β=1.23, p=0.023).
Conclusions:
- Elevated ESR is an independent predictor of WML progression.
- These findings suggest systemic inflammation contributes to the progression of cerebral small vessel disease.
