J Korean Acad Fam Med.  1997 Jan;18(1):39-45.

Discriminating Power of MCV and RDW in Anemia

• Lee GY
• Park TJ
• Lim EJ
• Gwak SW

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The red cell distribution width(RDW) has been reported to be of value in discriminating iron deficiency anemia(IDA) from the anemia of the other causes(non-IDA). The combination of a low MCV and a high RDW may indicate iron deficiency anemia. The purpose of this study was to discriminate IDA from anemia, using automated blood cell count alone.
METHODS
We collected 139 cases of anemia in outpatients, with 80 cases of IDA and 59 cases of anemia due to other causes, from July 1995 to September 1996 in department of family medicine, Pusan Paik hospital.
RESULTS
The sex distribution was 39(28.1%) in male, 100(71.9%) in female. The age distribution was 15 to 79 year. The hemoglobin level and MCV in IDA(9.5+/-1.6g/dl, 77.5+/-8.9fl) was significantly lower than those in non-IDA(10.1+/-1.5g/dl, 87.6+/-10.5fl)(P=0.042, P<0.001, respectively). And mean RDW in IDA(16.9+/-3.3%) was significantly higher than that in non-IDA(15.1+/-3.2%)(P<0.001). In discriminating IDA from anemia, we drew receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves) with each value of MCV and RDW. The cut-off value of MCV was 83fl, and in that value, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.9% and 72.9%, respectively. The cut-off value of RDW was 14.3%, and the sensitivity and specificity were 78.2% and 57.6 %, respectively. We combined each value of MCV with RDW, the cut off value were 83fl of MCV and 14.3% of RDW, and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.3% and 71.3%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity and specificity of MCV, RDW and combination of MCV and RDW were not so high in discriminating IDA from the anemia of the other causes in ambulatory patients.

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Anemia*
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
Blood Cell Count
Busan
Female
Humans
Iron
Male
Outpatients
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sex Distribution
Iron