Red cell profile in normal and sickle cell diseased children

ABSTRACT

The red cell distribution width index [RDW] and other cell indices [HCT, MCV, MCH] were determined in 171 normal infants and children, 37 patients with sickle cell disease [SCD] and 44 patients with sickle cell trait [SCT]. The red blood cell indices including RDW in normal children showed a significant difference between different age groups [P <0.01], while in different sex groups, they did not differ significantly. SCD group showed a significant increase in RDW and a significant decrease in the hematocrit [HCT] value when compared either with the control or the SCT groups [P <0.01]. Patients with SCD showed a significant increase in their RDW and a significant decrease in their hematocrit values during hemolytic crises as compared with those during vaso-occlusive crises [P <0.01]. A positive linear correlation between RDW and the reticulocyte count in SCD and SCT patients [r = 0.8842, P <0.01] was also found. In this context, it was concluded that RWD values do reflect the reticulocytes magnitude which would provide clinical and pathological information about SCD and its crises