Red cell distribution width as a potential index to assess the severity of hepatitis B virus-related liver diseases

To investigate the association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and the severity of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver diseases.

Sixty-nine patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 61 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis were enrolled in the present study. Forty-one healthy individuals were included as controls. Hematological parameters, hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) status, HBV DNA levels and liver biochemistry were analyzed. Child-Pugh scores and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores of the patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis were calculated.

The RDW was significantly higher in patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis as compared with CHB patients and healthy controls. RDW was slightly higher in CHB patients as compared with healthy controls. An increasing correlation of RDW with Child-Pugh grades was found. RDW was positively correlated with Child-Pugh scores and MELD scores. In patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, RDW was also positively correlated with total bilirubin and negatively correlated with hemoglobin and serum albumin concentration. However, no significant difference was found between HBeAg positive and negative patients and no significant correlation between RDW and HBV DNA levels was found.

The RDW was elevated in CHB patients and patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis and was positively correlated with the severity of HBV-related liver cirrhosis. RDW is a potential index to assess the severity of HBV-related liver diseases.