Could red cell distribution width be a marker in Hashimoto's thyroiditis?

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Hematology
• Immunology

Background:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a prevalent autoimmune condition characterized by thyroid gland inflammation.
• Red cell distribution width (RDW) measures erythrocyte size variation and is linked to inflammatory states beyond iron deficiency anemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether Red cell distribution width (RDW) is elevated in patients diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of patients with HT was studied, excluding those with anemia, diabetes, chronic inflammatory diseases, or on medications affecting hemogram results.
• Key hematological parameters, including RDW, and thyroid function tests (TSH, FT3, FT4) were analyzed and compared to a control group.

Main Results:

• Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis exhibited significantly increased Red cell distribution width (RDW) compared to the control group.
• No significant differences were observed in white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, or platelet count between groups.
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher, and Free T4 (FT4) levels were significantly lower in the HT group.

Conclusions:

• Elevated Red cell distribution width (RDW) in individuals without iron deficiency anemia may indicate a potential need for Hashimoto's thyroiditis evaluation.
• This finding is particularly relevant for the female population, where Hashimoto's thyroiditis is more common.