Kayadibi H, Sertoglu E, Uyanik M, Tapan S. Is increased red cell distribution width an indicating marker of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrotic stage? World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20(35): 12711-12712 [PMID: 25253983 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i35.12711]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Huseyin Kayadibi, MD, MSc, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Adana Military Hospital, Seyhan, Adana 01150, Turkey. mdkayadibi@yahoo.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Letters To The Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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Huseyin Kayadibi, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Adana Military Hospital, Adana 01150, Turkey
Erdim Sertoglu, Biochemistry Laboratory of Anittepe Dispensary, Ankara Mevki Military Hospital, Ankara 06580, Turkey
Metin Uyanik, Serkan Tapan, Department of Medical Biochemistry, GATA School of Medicine, Ankara 06018, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors searched the literature and conceived the manuscript; Kayadibi H and Sertoglu E wrote the first draft of the manuscript; all authors reviewed and edited the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Huseyin Kayadibi, MD, MSc, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Adana Military Hospital, Seyhan, Adana 01150, Turkey. mdkayadibi@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-544-6178931 Fax: +90-322-2272338
Received: January 13, 2014 Revised: May 9, 2014 Accepted: June 12, 2014 Published online: September 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Red cell distribution width (RDW) may play an important role in predicting steatohepatitis and stage of liver fibrosis. Use of improper cut-off values for alcohol consumption and inclusion of only subjects with normal aminotransferase levels and normal abdominal ultrasonography may result in a patient selection bias. Instead of using the iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, use of the functional forms of these molecules like methylmalonic acid, homocysteine, ferritin levels and total iron binding capacity is more sensitive and specific for vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. Consequently, RDW itself without other inflammatory markers may not accurately provide information about progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis.
