Utility of red cell distribution width in screening for iron deficiency

Abstract

An adult-derived RDW reference limit has utility in screening for iron deficiency at the age of 13 months. The incidence of non-anaemic iron deficiency in this group was 52.8%.

Reference intervals for red cell variables and platelet counts in infants at 2, 5 and 13 months of age: a cohort study

“…Of interest are the higher reticulocyte counts at 2 months, reflecting the upsurge in red cell production at this age, the unchanged MCV and MCH values between 5 and 13 months of age and the upper reference interval for ZPP of 57 µmol/molhaem at 13 months, almost identical to that found in healthy adults 17. RDW values were very low at 5 months, especially in girls (table 2), and differed significantly from those at 13 months, despite the use of an adult-derived upper limit at this age 11…”

“…We studied infants at 2 months of age, when erythropoietic activity begins to increase following the rapid fall in haemoglobin concentration that occurs in the first weeks of life,12 and at 5 months, an age at which endogenous iron stores begin to be depleted 13. At 13 months iron deficiency was found to be very common,11 limiting the number of subjects available for study.…”

“…At 5 months of age, however, when iron deficiency begins to manifest itself, the data of four infants with raised %hypo values were excluded. At 13 months of age, 56 infants were iron-deficient11 and reference ranges were established from the data of the remaining 42.…”

“…At 13 months a red cell distribution width(RDW) value >13.9% was also used as a marker of iron deficiency 11. At 2 months the distribution of blood cell counts of those with %hypo values ≤2.5 were compared with those with values >2.5, to investigate the cause of %hypo values >2.5 at this age.…”

An assessment of methods used in the investigation of iron status: findings in a population of young British South Asian children

“…Concerns about the effects of deficiency on psychomotor development2 3 have stimulated attempts at detection before anaemia develops 4 5. The standard classification of iron status recognises the iron-sufficient state and the categories of reduced iron stores, iron-deficient erythropoiesis and iron deficiency anaemia 6.…”