title: Is the red cell distribution width strong predictor for treatment response in primary glomerulonephritides?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel biomarkers are needed to predict the response to treatment in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) due to primary glomerulonephritides (PGN). We aimed to test the predictive value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) for estimation of response to therapy in adult patients with NS. Study design, setting & participants, and intervention: We performed a prospective study including 176 patients with NS due to PGN. Patients were divided into three groups according to their response to the treatment. Group 1 was composed of patients with complete remission whereas group 2 was composed of patients with partial remission and group 3 was composed of patients who were resistant to the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest baseline mean RDW value was found in group 3 patients (17.8 ± 1.8) whereas the lowest in group 1 (13.4 ± 0.7) before treatment (p<0.05). We found a significant decrease in RDW value after an effective treatment in groups 1 and group 2 (p<0.05). However, there was no significant change in RDW values after treatment in group 3 (p>0.05). Most of the patient with complete remission had base-line RDW level ≤ 14% (n=45, 90%) (p<0.001, Kendal Tau: -0.86), and most of the patients who were resistant to the treatment had base-line RDW level p>15% (n=68, 86.1%) (p<0.001, Kendal Tau: -0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that pre-treatment RDW value is a promising novel biomarker for predicting response to the treatment in adult patients with NS due to PGN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Mersin University , Mersin , Turkey .
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turgutalp
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kıykım
authors.forename: Simge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bardak
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Ümit
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.forename: Türkay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Özcan
authors.forename: Ilter
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Helvacı
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gözükara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone
keywords: Cheap test; nephrotic syndrome; predictor marker; red blood cell distribution width; response to treatment