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Published on: February 7, 2015
Associations of Increased Red Cell Distribution Width Levels with the Severity of Carotid Artery Stenosis:
1Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, United Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, Moscow, Russia.
Insights
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) increases with carotid artery stenosis severity in men, but not women. This suggests RDW may indicate inflammation and atherosclerosis progression in men, impacting cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Pathology
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an emerging biomarker in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- Carotid atherosclerosis, indicated by carotid artery stenosis (CAS), is a significant CVD risk factor.
- Investigating RDW's role in CAS severity is crucial for understanding atherosclerosis progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comparatively analyze Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.
- To assess the relationship between RDW and the severity of carotid artery stenosis (CAS).
- To explore potential sex-based differences in the RDW-CAS association.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study using the Duplex registry database.
- Analysis of complete blood count, lipid profile, and carotid ultrasound data from 2548 patients.
- Patients categorized into five groups based on CAS severity: none, 20%-49%, 50%-69%, 70%-99%, and occlusion.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant association was found between increased RDW and increased CAS severity in men (P = 0.0009).
- This association was not observed in women (P = 0.22).
- Female patients showed significantly different levels of HDL cholesterol, platelets, RBC, and WBC compared to men across CAS severity groups.
Conclusions:
- RDW elevation correlates with increased carotid atherosclerosis severity in men, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for inflammation and disease progression.
- The RDW-CAS relationship differs between sexes, highlighting potential sex-specific mechanisms in atherosclerosis.
- RDW may serve as an additional laboratory biomarker contributing to understanding increased morbidity and mortality from atherosclerotic CVD in men.
Background:
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is being actively studied as a biomarker in various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of RDW in patients with carotid atherosclerosis, comparing it with an assessment of the severity of carotid artery stenosis (CAS).
Methods:
The Duplex registry database was used to conduct this retrospective cross-sectional study. The study participants underwent a complete blood count test, analysis for lipid profile, and carotid ultrasound. The patients were divided into 5 groups depending on CAS degree: none; 20%-49%; 50%-69%; 70%-99%; and occlusion.
Results:
Data from 2548 patients were included in the final analysis (mean age: 57.9 ± 12.3 years; 51% males [n = 1301]). The analysis confirmed the relationship between the increase in the RDW index and CAS gradation increase in men (Kr-W H = 16.43; P = 0.0009), but was not confirmed in women (Kr-W H = 4.32; P = 0.22). Significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and platelets and lower levels of red blood cell and white blood cells were registered in female patients without CAS and with CAS < 50% compared with men (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The results of the present study showed that RDW is an indicator whose increase is associated with an increase in the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in men, but not in women. This allows to discuss the role of the RDW index as a possible new laboratory biomarker of inflammation and progression of atherosclerosis, which can make an additional contribution to the formation of increased morbidity and mortality in men from atherosclerotic CVD.
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