Amparo Vayá1, Victoriano Hernández2, Leonor Rivera2, José Luis Hernández2, Aída Lago3, Francisco España4, Daniel Bautista5. 1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Hemorheology and Haemostasis Unit, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain vaya_amp@gva.es. 2. Department of Clinical Pathology, Hemorheology and Haemostasis Unit, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. 3. Neurology Service, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. 4. Research Centre, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. 5. Epidemiology Service, Doctor Peset University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is no information about a possible association of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) with cryptogenic stroke (CS). We aimed to analyze the association of RDW with CS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three patients with CS were included along with 186 healthy controls. Fibrinogen, leukocytes, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte indices were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients showed higher RDW, leukocyte count, and body mass index (BMI) than controls (P < .05). No differences were observed in the erythrocyte indices or in glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels (P > .05). When patients with anemia were excluded from the study (6 controls and 5 cases), the differences between cases and controls persisted (P = .005). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that, after adjusting for potential confounders (anemia, age > 40 years, gender, and fibrinogen >382 mg/dL, total cholesterol >240 mg/dL, and BMI > 28.7 kg/m(2)), RDW >14% was the only parameter that independently increased the risk of CS. CONCLUSION: The RDW >14% increased the risk of CS by 2.5-fold, irrespectively of anemia, inflammation, and lipidic profile.
BACKGROUND: There is no information about a possible association of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) with cryptogenic stroke (CS). We aimed to analyze the association of RDW with CS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three patients with CS were included along with 186 healthy controls. Fibrinogen, leukocytes, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte indices were evaluated. RESULTS:Patients showed higher RDW, leukocyte count, and body mass index (BMI) than controls (P < .05). No differences were observed in the erythrocyte indices or in glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels (P > .05). When patients with anemia were excluded from the study (6 controls and 5 cases), the differences between cases and controls persisted (P = .005). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that, after adjusting for potential confounders (anemia, age > 40 years, gender, and fibrinogen >382 mg/dL, total cholesterol >240 mg/dL, and BMI > 28.7 kg/m(2)), RDW >14% was the only parameter that independently increased the risk of CS. CONCLUSION: The RDW >14% increased the risk of CS by 2.5-fold, irrespectively of anemia, inflammation, and lipidic profile.