title: Association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAS) in patients with primary ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to explore the association between RDW and CAS in patients with ischemic stroke, expecting to find a new and significant diagnosis index for clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involves 432 consecutive patients with primary ischemic stroke (within 72 h). All subjects were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging, and underwent physical examination, laboratory tests and carotid ultrasonography check. Finally, 392 patients were included according to the exclusion criteria. The odds ratios of independent variables were calculated using stepwise multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and RDW are both significantly different between CAS group and control group. Univariate analyses show that high-sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and RDW (r=0.436) are both in significantly positive association with IMT. Stepwise multiple logistic regression shows that RDW is an independent protective factor of CAS in patients with ischemic stroke. Compared with the lowest quartile, the second to fourth quartiles are 1.13 (95% CI: 1.13-3.05), 2.02 (95% CI: 1.66-4.67), and 3.10 (95% CI: 2.46-7.65), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggested that RDW level were higher than non-CAS in patients with primary ischemic stroke. Our results facilitated a bridge to connect RDW with ischemic stroke and further confirmed the role of RDW in the progression of the ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of ZhengZhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 474500, China. Electronic address: jiahezz1975@126.com.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of ZhengZhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 474500, China.
authors.forename: Huimian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 474500, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450001, China.
authors.forename: Che
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital, Changsha, Hunan Province 410013, China.
authors.forename: Yingyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410011, China.
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Carotid artery atherosclerosis; Ischemic stroke; Red cell blood distribution width