The Open Gastroenterology Journal
2010, 4 : 1-4Published online 2010 September 09. DOI: 10.2174/1874259901004010001
Publisher ID: TOGASJ-4-1
Red Blood Cell Distribution Width in Combination with Serological Markers can Help in the Differentiation between Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Recent data suggest that red blood cell distribution width (RDW) could be a reliable marker in differentiating Crohn’s disease (CD) from ulcerative colitis (UC).
Aim:
Our study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RDW and serological markers for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the risk for the diseases in case of abnormal RDW value and positive serological markers separately and conjointly and to evaluate the efficacy of RDW in the differential diagnosis between IBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We also examined the influence of the drug treatments on the alteration of RDW values.
Patients and methods:
The clinical records of 98 CD, 81 UC, 26 IBS patients and 84 healthy controls were reviewed. Sensitivity, specificity and relative risk of RDW and ASCA IgA, ASCA IgG and anti-OmpC antibodies for CD and UC were assessed. RDW values of IBS patients and IBD patients were also statistically compared.
Results:
RDW was significantly elevated in IBD patients compared to IBS patients. 92% specificity cutpoint at a RDW level of 13.4% was detected in both CD and UC independently of the disease activity. Significantly higher risk for CD was observed in case of combined assessment of abnormal RDW and positive ASCA IgA vs. the other serological markers or to separate determination of RDW
Conclusion:
RDW could be a useful and inexpensive activity marker, which may help in the differential diagnosis between IBD and IBS and using in combination with ASCA IgA it shows a synergistic effect in the distinction of CD from UC.