R70-R79: Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
R70: Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and abnormality of plasma viscosity
Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and abnormality of plasma viscosity fall under a group of conditions characterized generally by abnormalities in the blood. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube. An increased ESR indicates inflammation somewhere in the body. On the other hand, plasma viscosity refers to the thickness and stickiness of your blood. Increased plasma viscosity is often seen in conditions where the protein content of the blood is high, causing the blood to become thick. These types of conditions can present with a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, and fever. They can be due to many causes, including infection, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. The progression of these conditions largely depends on the underlying cause. Various systems in the body can be affected depending on the origin of the inflammation or increase in blood protein content.
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