title: Monitoring dietary compliance in coeliac disease using red cell distribution width.
abstract: Red cell distribution width (RDW) as measured on modern blood analysers is a sensitive marker of nutritional deficiency affecting red blood cell production and maturation. Such deficiencies are common in coeliac disease and it may therefore be possible indirectly to assess response to a gluten-free diet by monitoring the RDW. We measured RDW, iron, B12, folate and endomysial antibodies (EMA) in 46 newly diagnosed coeliac patients at diagnosis and after a gluten-free diet. RDW was elevated in 76% of patients at diagnosis. There was a significant decrease in RDW (17.3% vs 13.8%) after 12 months of diet, corresponding to sero-conversion of EMA and normalisation of serum iron, B12 and folate levels. We conclude that monitoring RDW is a simple indirect means of assessing response to a gluten-free diet in coeliac disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Belfast City Hospital.
authors.forename: R M S
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D048429:Cell Size; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies