title: Importance of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of red blood cell distribution width levels on the diagnosis and management of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Turkey, and comprised record of patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013. Factors analysed were age, gender, red blood cell distribution width level, admission haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, endoscopy findings classified according to the Forrest system, comorbid diseases, use of medications, unhealthy habits like alcohol usage and smoking, and mortality rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 147 patients, 93(64%) were men. The overall median age of the sample was 60 years. Besides, 117(79.6%) patients had comorbid diseases, of which hypertension 56(38.4%) was the most common. A total of 24(16.8%) patients were using antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, while 30(20.5%) were on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Peptic ulcer in 128(87.1%) patients was the most common cause of haemorrhage. The median red blood cell distribution width level of the study population was 15.25% which was significantly higher compared to the reference values (p<0.05).. In contrast, haemoglobin 9.55% (3.7) and haematocrit 28.75% (10.8)were significantly lower (p<0.05). Mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with higher red blood cell distribution width values (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Red blood cell distribution width levels were higher during the acute phase of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kecioren Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahattin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhittin Serkan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cihat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yel
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kavalci
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gorkem Alper
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Solakoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ongar
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirci
mesh_terms: D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014421:Turkey; D041742:Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Gastrointestinal haemorrhage, Red blood cell distribution width, Emergency.