Promising Applications of Red Cell Distribution Width in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Diseases With or Without Disordered Iron Metabolism

The review discusses the potential applications of red cell distribution width (RDW) in diagnosing and prognosing diseases, particularly those related to disordered iron metabolism. RDW, which measures the variability in red blood cell sizes, is known to indicate conditions like iron deficiency anemia and hemolytic anemia. The review highlights that increased RDW is also common in non-anemic diseases and is influenced by factors such as disordered iron metabolism, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. The authors suggest that RDW, being cost-effective and easily accessible, could be valuable in clinical practice when used alongside other indicators like hepcidin and ferritin levels to enhance the diagnosis and monitoring of various pathological conditions.