Changes of red blood cell volume distribution width in children with malnutrition and anemia

Objective To investigate the changes of red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW) and its clinical significance in children with malnutritional and anemia.Methods The RDW was detected and analysed in 63 children who were suffered from moderate or severe malnutrition complicated with anemia.The control group included 30 children who were out-patient health examination.The hemoglobin(Hb),red blood count(RBC),mean corpuscular volume (MCV),mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH),mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC) and RDW were detected in both groups.Results According to the MCV、MCHC,the children of malnutritional anemia were devided into three types of anemia including macrocytic anemia,normocytic anemia and microcytic anemia.There was no significant difference in RDW among three types of anemia.The RDW in malnutrition group was more significantly elevated than that in control group(P0.01).Conclusion RDW is of great importance in diagnosing malnutritional anemia.