Abstract

The ESR studies have been studied in 57 healthy young men and 38 healthy young women by KRC modified Westergren method for the normal reference value of ESR in this laboratory, and also in 74 randomly selected patients for comparison of ESR between the KRC modified Westergren and Wintrobe method. The mean value of normal young man was 5±3.8㎜/hr and normal range was 0 to 11 ㎜/hr. The mean value of normal young woman was 13±5.1㎜/hr and normal range was 0 to 23 ㎜/hr. The mean value and upper limit of range were higher in woman than I man. In comparison of ESR of patient group, ESR by Wintrobe method was higher in normal and slightly abnormal group but in moderate abnormal and marked abnormal levels, ESR by KRC was much higher than that by Wintrobe method. This result was a same as in comparison of hematocrit-corrected ESR. The Wintrobe method seemed to be a more reliable method for the screening of chronic inflammatory conditions, especially having anemia, due to adequate hematocrit correction. However for menitoring the progress of chronic inflammatory process such as rheumatoid arthritis, KRC modified Westergren method appears to be more reliable and more convenient than Wintrobe method.