ESR in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC)

ESR is a inflammatory marker reported as elevated in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC) when patients are compared with the reference group of the cited comparison (active IBD vs quiescent/baseline disease). The source does not tie this marker to a specific symptom cluster, so it is best read as a biological signal rather than a symptom predictor. The evidence summarised here comes from Ondrejčáková et al. 2024 and reflects averages across cohorts rather than any single patient's result.

↑ ElevatedInflammatory

Summary

Direction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC)↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group
CategoryInflammatory
Compared againstactive IBD vs quiescent/baseline disease
SourceOndrejčáková et al. 2024 — doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103512
Condition atlasInflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC) Biomarker Atlas

Other conditions where ESR is reported

See the cross-condition hub: ESR across conditions.

Related Inflammatory markers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC)

Full list: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC) Biomarker Atlas.

Frequently asked questions

Is ESR high or low in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC)?

Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher ESR in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC) than in the reference group of the cited comparison (active IBD vs quiescent/baseline disease). Source: Ondrejčáková et al. 2024.

Which test measures ESR?

The atlas record does not list a standardised clinical test code (LOINC) for ESR, which usually means it was measured with research assays or study-specific protocols rather than a routine clinical panel. Check the cited source for the exact method.

Is one abnormal ESR result diagnostic of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC)?

No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC). ESR findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.

Is ESR specific to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC)?

No. The same marker is also reported in Lyme Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). ESR in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC): direction, evidence and what it means. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/inflammatory-bowel-disease-crohn-s-uc/esr.html
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-03 · Page generated from inflammatory-bowel-disease-crohn-s-uc.json · Browse: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's/UC) atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages

Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.