Influence of inflammatory and lipidic parameters on red blood cell distribution width in a healthy population

Abstract

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a routine red blood cell count parameter which has been shown to be associated with inflammatory parameters. Recently, some authors proposed that RDW seems to be a marker of an adverse lipidic profile. In order to clarify whether RDW is related to inflammation, plasma lipids, or both, we determined anthropometric, hematimetric, inflammatory and lipidic parameters in 1111 healthy subjects. RDW correlated directly with age, body mass index (BMI), inflammatory parameters (plasma viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, leukocyte and neutrophil count), and inversely with iron and hematimetric parameters (P < 0.05). When subjects were divided according to gender, RDW correlated inversely with triglycerides only in women (P < 0.05). When subjects were classified into RDW-quartiles, increased RDW values were accompanied by decreased serum iron levels and hematimetric indices (P < 0.01), whereas age and inflammatory markers increased according to RDW-quartiles (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). However, plasma lipids did not change with increasing RDW-quartiles (P > 0.05). In the linear regression analysis, age, hemoglobin, MCV (beta coefficient: 0.202, -0.234, -0.316, P < 0.001) and fibrinogen (beta coefficient: 0.059, P = 0.048) were the only independent predictors of RDW. The present study indicates that RDW is associated with inflammatory markers and hematimetric indices, but not with plasma lipid levels in a healthy population.

Red cell distribution width, other hematological parameters and atherogenic index of plasma in patients with clopidogrel and aspirin resistance

“…However, we did not find a correlation between AIP, T cholesterol, and RDW in our patients, which is in agreement with Vaya et al [13]'s study. They also did not observe a correlation between RDW and T cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL cholesterol, or TG in a healthy Mediterranean population [13]. They found that RDW is associated with inflammatory markers but not with an unfavourable lipid profile.…”

“…Increases in erythrocyte membrane cholesterol levels are responsible for the deterioration of cell deformability, which affects the lifespans of circulating erythrocytes, and this results in elevated RDW values [13,17,18]. However, we did not find a correlation between AIP, T cholesterol, and RDW in our patients, which is in agreement with Vaya et al [13]'s study. They also did not observe a correlation between RDW and T cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL cholesterol, or TG in a healthy Mediterranean population [13].…”

“…There are a number of studies indicating that RDW has been influenced by inflammation and oxidative stress, and a strong correlation between RDW and inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein, and sedimentation rate has been observed [11][12][13]. We found that inflammation-related CBC parameters were similar between the groups; however, this was not in agreement with our working hypothesis.…”

“…The stability of erythrocytes may be maximal within an optimal range of membrane fluidity [18]. Increases in erythrocyte membrane cholesterol levels are responsible for the deterioration of cell deformability, which affects the lifespans of circulating erythrocytes, and this results in elevated RDW values [13,17,18]. However, we did not find a correlation between AIP, T cholesterol, and RDW in our patients, which is in agreement with Vaya et al [13]'s study.…”

Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an easily obtainable inflammatory marker, is also proved to be associated with the prognosis of HCC (19). Previous studies indicated that RDW is positively correlated with inflammatory biomarkers, such as CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in unselected outpatient (20) and healthy population (21). It can, hence, be hypothesized that RDW may be indicator of inflammation.…”