Red Cell Distribution Width Index versus Red Cell Distribution Width as a Discriminating Guide for Iron Deficiency Anemia and Beta Thalassemia Trait

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Pediatric Department, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.

2 Pediatric Department, Assiut Police Hospital*, Assiut, Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and β-thalassemia trait (βTT) are considered to be the two main causes of microcytic hypochromic anaemias. RDWI can be easily calculated as (MCVXRDW/RBC) and can be a reliable index in differentiation between βTT and IDA. Aim of Work: Our study aimed to evaluate RDW and RDWI in the differentiation between iron deficiency anemia and beta thalassemia trait. Patient and Methods: This study was conducted in the hematology outpatient clinic, Assuit University, Children's Hospital. One hundred and twenty children with microcytic hypochromic anemia were enrolled in this study. Sixty children diagnosed with Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), 60 children previously diagnosed with beta thalassemia trait (βTT) by hemoglobin electrophoresis, and followed up in the hematology unit. Results: RDWI could significantly discriminate between IDA and βTT with an area under the curve equal to 0.83 (P-value < 0.001) with 83.3% sensitivity and 80% specificity. There were significant differences between the IDA and βTT groups in RDW and RDWI, with the P-value <.05being higher in IDA. Significant differences existed between the two groups in S. iron, TIBC, and S. ferritin (p-value =0.000). Conclusion: Red cell distribution index (RDWI) is more reliable than RDW for differentiation between IDA and βTT, and it is easy, cheap, and a more accessible parameter without being time-consuming. Keywords: Microcytic anemias; IDA; βTT; RDWI.

Keywords

Journal of Current Medical Research and Practice
Volume 10, Issue 4
October 2025
Pages 81-88

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