Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): non-specific marker of inflammation; slower to respond than CRP
OVERVIEW microscopy and culture is useful in community acquired diarrhoeal syndromes (not useful otherwise) in-hospital:— blood = ischaemic bowel or surgical cause— diarrhoea = rule out Clostridium difficile infection MICROSCOPY parasites, cysts, ova: giardia, cryptosporidium, blastocystis red and white cells:…
OVERVIEW PROTHROMBIN TIME -> warfarin-> vitamin K deficiency-> liver disease-> DIC-> artefact: incorrect sampling or increased haematocrit (> 55%) ACTIVATED PARTIAL THROMBOPLASTIN TIME -> heparin-> DIC-> haemophilia-> liver disease THROMBIN TIME -> heparin-> DIC-> hypofibrinogenaemia-> fibrin degradation products FIBRINOGEN ->…