Blood cell sedimentation rate (BSG) | Heart muscle inflammation – Blood values

Blood cell sedimentation rate (BSG)

The blood cell sedimentation rate (BSG for short) is measured within one and after two hours to determine by how much the blood cell components are reduced. The speed of this reduction is then determined. This is also an inflammation marker, which is increased when an inflammatory process is present in the body. The advantage of SPA determination is that the blood does not have to be sent to a special laboratory for this purpose, but can also be collected in any doctor’s practice that has the appropriate blood collection tubes. The disadvantage of the blood sedimentation rate, however, is that the standard value covers a relatively broad spectrum and is therefore very unspecific.

Determination of virus types

A virus serology is a kind of addiction test for the presence of certain types of viruses in the blood of the patient. Since infectious heart muscle inflammation is viral in about 50% of cases, this test can be used if the cause of the heart muscle inflammation (myocarditis) is not obvious. The most commonly represented viruses are Coxsackie viruses, but influenza viruses can also be responsible for infectious heart muscle inflammation.

Detection of autoantibodies

Detection of autoantibodies can be a further explanation for the origin of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). In the sense of a so-called autoimmune disease, these antibodies are directed against the body’s own structures. The body therefore unconsciously damages itself.

There are a number of antibodies for which the blood can be tested. Relatively speaking, autoimmune diseases as a cause of myocarditis are rather rare and should only be considered if the condition cannot really be explained otherwise, as these examinations are very cost-intensive.