what do its values mean?

Certainly one of the parameters that always cause concern after receiving the outcomes of a blood count is the RDW (red cell blood distribution width) or ‘red cell distribution width test’. It indicates the variability in the scale of red blood cells, that are accountable for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the remaining of the body’s cells. What do high or low values indicate?

A high RDW indicates that there’s a major difference between the scale of the smallest and largest red blood cells. It often applies to those situations where many red blood cells are larger than normal, although the other may also be true. This criterion is often utilized in the diagnosis of anemia.

If the values are below what is taken into account normal, it doesn’t often indicate a disease, unless it’s observed that other variables – resembling mean corpuscular volume (MCV)- are also low. In the next article, we’re going to inform you more in regards to the significance of this indicator within the CBC.

What’s RDW?

The RDW (red blood cell distribution width) is a parameter that is a component of the whole blood count or CBC test. It reflects the scale distribution of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and is expressed in percentages, with normal values being 12 to fifteen%.

A term that typically refers to something similar is anisocytosis, although the latter is a consequence of direct commentary of red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear (under the microscope).

Returning to RDW, if the proportion is higher than 15%, it’s indicative of alterations within the blood. It’s not a really specific parameter, because the causes of those volume variations could be very diverse, resembling vitamin B12 deficiency and alcoholism.

Due to this fact, it’s a test that’s traditionally used to diagnose the different sorts of anemia. Sometimes it’s also used concurrently with other tests to confirm conditions resembling thalassemia, liver and kidney disease, diabetes, and even some sorts of hematological tumors.

What does a high RDW value on a CBC mean?

When the RDW is high on the CBC it implies that there may be a greater variation in the scale of the red blood cells. When RDW values are observed to be high, an interpretation is made together with hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels to tell apart between several types of anemia or other diseases.

Its most typical causes include the next conditions:

• Iron deficiency anemia: This happens due to iron deficiency, so hemoglobin can’t be synthesized properly. Due to this fact, hemoglobin could be low and MCV decreased.
• Megaloblastic anemia: That is brought on by a deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12, crucial for DNA synthesis within the precursors of those cells. Hemoglobin could be low and MCV high, typical of this disease.
• Thalassemias: These are a gaggle of genetic disorders wherein abnormal types of hemoglobin are synthesized. Each hemoglobin and MCV could be low.
• Liver disease: Because the liver
• s functions of metabolism and elimination of waste substances are impaired when there’s a disease present, the size of red blood cells is usually altered.

The outcomes of research published within the journal Plos One suggest that top RDW within the blood count has a predictive value for other chronic diseases, resembling type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular pathologies (especially heart failure), and cancer.

At present, there’s no specific treatment to revive RDW values to normal levels. That’s why it’s crucial to acquire a diagnosis of the disease that’s causing the alteration in an effort to follow an adequate and effective protocol.

Recommendations for lowering a high RDW

To lower a high RDW, it’s crucial to intervene on the underlying cause. Treatment options vary depending on the related disease. Nevertheless, some general advice to assist restore these parameters to normal values is as follows:

• Get regular physical exertion.
• Sleep between 7 and 9 hours a day.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco consumption.
• Increase your consumption of foods wealthy in iron, vitamin B9, or vitamin B12 (depending on the sort of anemia).

What does a low RDW value mean?

A low RDW count within the CBC is frequently of no clinical significance, because it isn’t indicative of a disease. Especially when the opposite parameters (hemoglobin and MCV) are usually not altered.

Nevertheless, if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is altered and the RDW is low, it’s crucial to research whether that is as a consequence of diseases resembling kidney problems, HIV, cancer, diabetes, or liver disease. Your doctor may suggest additional tests.

High RDW often indicates anemia

Several disorders that affect red cell volume can result in an elevated RDW. Normally, it’s related to deficiency anemias (resembling iron deficiency anemia and megaloblastic anemia). It could possibly also indicate thalassemia, liver disease, and other chronic conditions.

Regardless of the case, it’s essential to seek medical attention to search out out which disease is behind this alteration within the hemogram. Once established, the physician can provide guidance on the suitable treatment for the situation.

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