title: Red blood cell distribution width is a potential index to assess the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General population-based investigations have revealed that red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with inflammatory indexes such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Chronic inflammation is one of the major components of many autoimmune diseases and RDW may reflect the severity of these autoimmune diseases as well. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between RDW and disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 131 SLE patients were retrospectively analyzed. Correlations between RDW and disease activity or other inflammatory indexes were analyzed. The effect of glucocorticoid treatment for three months on RDW was estimated in 3 newly diagnosed SLE cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased RDW was observed in SLE patients. RDW was positively correlated with serum IgM, CRP, ESR, and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Glucocorticoid treatment decreased both SLEDAI-2K and RDW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RDW may be a useful index to estimate the disease activity of SLE.
authors: Department of Laboratory Diagnosis, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Laboratory Diagnosis, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital of Ji'nan Military Command Region, Ji'nan, PR China.
authors: Zhi-De
authors: ZD
authors: Hu
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Yuan-Lan
authors: YL
authors: Huang
authors: Qian-Qian
authors: QQ
authors: Wang
authors: Yu-Lian
authors: YL
authors: Xu
authors: Sun-Xiao
authors: SX
authors: Chen
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Qin
authors: An-Mei
authors: AM
authors: Deng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Disease activity; Red blood cell distribution width; Systemic lupus erythematosus