Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) by Westergreen and Ziehl- Neelsen staining techniques were performed on 128 samples collected between January 2010 to November 2011 in the city of Porto Novo ,Cape Verde among whom 73(57%) were males and 55(43%) were females. 8(6.25%) were positive for tuberculosis with elevated ESR in all the eight samples. In all the samples, 77.3% showed elevated ESR without evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis and elevated ESR were influenced by age. In conclusion, ESR could serve as an important prognostic index but not a diagnostic index unless used in conjunction with other specific tests such as cultural techniques, nucleic acid probes and nucleic acid amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). ESR left alone cannot serve as an important diagnostic index for tuberculosis since elevated results were recorded even in the absence of disease.
KEYWORDS: Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate, Diagnostic index, pulmonary, Tuberculosis
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Acknowledgment
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Ziehl-Neelsen Staining Technique
- Results
- Table 1: Summary of ESR with Age Group
- Table 2: Graphical Representation of Samples Tested
- Discussion and Conclusion
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to evaluate the clinical usefulness of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis. The research investigates the correlation between ESR levels and the presence of tuberculosis, considering various factors that influence ESR results.
- The diagnostic value of ESR in pulmonary tuberculosis.
- Factors influencing ESR levels (age, sex, other infections).
- Comparison of ESR results with other diagnostic methods.
- Limitations of using ESR as a sole diagnostic tool.
- The role of ESR as a prognostic indicator.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction establishes ESR as a non-specific test widely used in clinical medicine, detailing its methodology and the factors influencing sedimentation rates. It reviews existing literature on ESR, highlighting its role in various conditions and the controversies surrounding its use in tuberculosis diagnosis. The Methodology section describes the sample collection (venous blood and sputum from 128 subjects), the ESR measurement using the Westergreen method, and the Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique for identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The Results section presents data on ESR levels in relation to age and the presence of tuberculosis, indicating a high percentage of elevated ESR even in the absence of infection. Further details are given in tables summarizing the findings.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Diagnostic Index, Prognostic Indicator, Ziehl-Neelsen Staining, Westergreen Method, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Quote paper
- Peter Ubah Okeke (Author), 2011, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: Is It An Important Diagnostic Index For Pulmonary Tuberculosis?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/183069
