title: Relationship between the red blood cell distribution width and risk of acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, a number of studies have shown an increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to be a strong and independent predictor of the prognosis of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the relationship between the RDW and a poor prognosis of coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and twenty-four patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were analyzed retrospectively. We evaluated the relationships between the RDW and the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTpro-BNP), fasting blood glucose and lipid levels, as well as other parameters of blood examinations and angiographic manifestations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 85 patients in the RDW ≥ 14% group (mean age 60.62 ± 11.29 years, and men: 87%) and 339 patients in the RDW ＜ 14% group (mean age: 59.74 ± 11.55 years, and men: 78%). The RDW ≥ 14% group had higher platelet distribution width (PDW), NTpro-BNP and hsCRP values on admission, a heavier intracoronary thrombotic burden and a higher incidence of three-branch vascular lesions than the RDW ＜ 14% group. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the associations between the RDW and the NTpro-BNP level, incidence of three-branch and left main lesions and intracoronary thrombotic burden remained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high RDW may be associated with the severity and instability of acute myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of heart center Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Friendship Hospital.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yupeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yongquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein