Relation between red blood cell distribution width and inflammatory biomarkers in a large cohort of unselected outpatients.

To assess whether RDW is associated with plasma markers of inflammation since the mechanism(s) underlying this association remain unknown.

We retrospectively analyzed results of RDW, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, ferritin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in a large cohort of unselected adult outpatients who were consecutively referred by general practitioners for routine medical check-up.