Value of Red Cell Distribution Width for Assessing Disease Activity in Crohn's Disease

Abstract Background Correlation between red cell distribution width (RDW) and chronic inflammation was observed, although studies focused on value of RDW for assessing disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD) are limited. Methods This is a prospective study. RDW, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell count were measured in 100 patients with CD on admission and 102 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. value of these markers for assessing disease activity in CD was investigated. Results RDW was significantly higher in patients with active CD than in inactive patients ( P Conclusions RDW was elevated in patients with active CD in comparison with patients in remission. As a cost-effective tool, RDW may assist in determining the disease activity of CD.