Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The red cell distribution width (RDW) is a simple and unexpensive parameter for differential diagnosis of anemias. However, the number of articles mentioning about the relationship between RDW and human disorders is increasing. In transplantation practice, peripheral blood is the most common source of hematopoietic stem cells and many factors affect the success of mobilization. In this study, we tried to find a relationship between increased RDW and CD34+ cell count in the harvest.

METHODS

Fifty patients were included in the study. Diagnosis were multiple myeloma (n=32), non Hodgkin lymphoma (n=9), Hodgkin lymphoma (n=6), primary amyloidosis (n=1), Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (n=1) and testicular carcinoma (n=1). Mobilization regimens were cyclophosphamide plus granulocyte colony stimulatig factor (G-CSF), G-CSF alone, etoposide plus G-CSF and salvage chemotherapy plus G-CSF. RDW was not correlated with peripheral blood CD34+ cell count and CD34+ cell count in the harvest. Above 16% was set as a cut-off for increased RDW and patients were divided into 2 groups.

RESULTS

Although peripheral blood CD34+ cell count and CD34+ cell count in the harvest were not different statistically between 2 groups, the numbers were lower in the increased RDW group. RDW was not correlated with peripheral blood CD34+ cell count and CD34+ cell count in the harvest in both groups.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the relationship between RDW and stem cell mobilization in cancer patients. It seems reasonable to use RDW far beyond the differential diagnosis of anemias and stem cell mobilization can be a potential candidate.