Relevance of red cell distribution width (RDW) in the differential diagnosis of microcytic anaemias.
The authors studied the red cell distribution width (RDW) index (obtained by Coulter Counter S Plus IV) in normal subjects and in patients with beta-thalassaemia trait and iron deficiency anaemia. Statistics and reference limits for the above three conditions are given. In order to make a differential diagnosis between beta-thalassaemia trait and iron deficiency anaemia, linear discriminant analysis was carried out. Global correct classification was 91.5% on our first sample of patients and 88.8% on a subsequent validation sample of microcytic patients. The percent of correct beta-thalassaemia trait diagnoses was 94.4% and 86.7% for the first and validation samples respectively. For iron deficiency anaemia correct diagnoses of 86.2% and 90.9% were achieved.
Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Direzione Scientifica, Servizio di Biostatistica, Milano, Italia.
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BM
Cesana
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AT
Maiolo
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R
Gidiuli
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I
Damilano
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P
Massaro
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Polli
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology