Association of Red Cell Distribution Width and Mean Platelet Volume With Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Abstract

The inner layer of the synovial joints is the primary target of rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that is linked to increasing disability, early mortality, and economic hardships. The objective is to determine the association of red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) with disease activity in RA. A retrospective study was conducted between July 2021 and January 2022 in the outpatient rheumatology clinics at Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital. In this study, 100 consecutive participants with a diagnosis of RA fulfilling the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria were enrolled. Patient's records were reviewed for age, gender, length of illness, smoking status, treatment history, current treatment regimen, concomitant medications, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrulline peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, and extra-articular manifestations. Laboratory investigations were reviewed for complete blood count including RDW and MPV, ESR, CRP, liver, and renal functions. Disease activity score DAS 28-ESR was used to quantify disease activity. To determine the relationship between different parameters and the RDW and MPV, linear regression research was conducted. According to the DAS28 score, 12% of patients were in remission, 9% had low, 34% had moderate, and 45% had high disease activity. DAS28 score was 5.01±1.72 (2.45-9.32) and RDW was 16.18±4.42. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.653) of RDW with the DAS28 score and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). MPV was 11.30±2.09 fL. There was a moderately positive correlation (r = 0.366) of MPV with the DAS28 score and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusively, both RDW and MPV are positively related to disease activity in patients with RA. These can be used as a simple tool for assessing disease activity and guiding the treatment.