Preliver transplant red cell distribution width predicts postliver transplant mortality

Prognostication following liver transplantation is limited. Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been associated with morbidity and mortality in a variety of diseases. We hypothesize RDW is predictive of mortality postliver transplantation.

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all consecutive liver transplantation recipients at a tertiary care center from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. The primary end point was association of RDW with one-year mortality. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test, independent samples t test, and regression analysis. Discrimination was assessed by calculating area under receiver operating curves (AUC). A P-value <.05 was considered significant.

RDW was positively associated with one-year mortality (P<.001). The mean difference for survivors compared to nonsurvivors was 3.9% (95% CI 1.9%-5.9%). The AUC for RDW was 0.831 (95% CI 0.727-0.935), compared to 0.723 (0.539-0.908) for total bilirubin and 0.704 (0.479-0.929) for the international normalized ratio.

To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association of RDW with post-LT mortality and the results show the predictive value of pre-LT RDW for one-year mortality.