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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Association of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Levels with Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung
Shenyun Shi1, Ling Chen2, Xianhua Gui1
1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008 Jiangsu, China.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD).
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed 213 CTD-ILD patients and 97 CTD patients without ILD from February 2017 to February 2020. Hospital and office records were used as data sources. CTD-ILD patients were followed up.
Results:
Patients with CTD-ILD had significantly higher RDW than those with CTD without ILD (p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of RDW for discriminating CTD-ILD from CTD without ILD was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.57-0.70, p < 0.001). The cutoff value of RDW for discriminating CTD-ILD from CTD without ILD was 13.95% with their corresponding specificity (55.9%) and sensitivity (70.1%). Correlation analyses showed that the increased RDW was significantly correlated with decreased DLCO%predicted (r = -0.211, p = 0.002). Cox multiple regression analysis indicated that RDW (HR = 1.495, p < 0.001) was an independent factor in the survival of CTD-ILD. The best cutoff value of RDW to predict the survival of patients with CTD-ILD was 14.05% (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.72-0.84, p < 0.001). The log-rank test showed a significant difference in survival between the two groups (RDW > 14.05% and RDW < 14.05%).
Conclusion:
RDW was higher in CTD-ILD patients and had a negative correlation with DLCO%predicted. RDW may be an important serum biomarker for severity and prognosis of patients with CTD-ILD.
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