Is Red Cell Distribution Width a Marker for the Presence and Poor Prognosis of Cardiovascular Disease?

Abstract

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is an indices heterogeneity of cell size in the peripheral blood and has been shown to be an independent correlate of adverse outcomes in healthy subjects and in some cardiac conditions. Additionally, RDW is associated with both the presence and the complexity of vascular disease. In this review we investigate the importance of RDW in vascular disease in the light of recent information.

Keywords

• Acute cardiovascular events
• Cardiovascular disease
• Red cell distribution width