What is high rdwcv in blood?

Red cell distribution width coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) is a measure of the variation in the size of red blood cells. A high RDW-CV means that there is a greater variation in the size of red blood cells, which can be a sign of several conditions, including:

Iron deficiency: Iron deficiency is the most common cause of a high RDW-CV. When the body does not have enough iron, it cannot produce enough hemoglobin, which is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. This can lead to the production of smaller red blood cells, which can increase the RDW-CV.

Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency: Vitamin B12 and folate are nutrients that are necessary for the production of red blood cells. A deficiency in either of these nutrients can lead to the production of larger red blood cells, which can increase the RDW-CV.

Thalassemia: Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that affects the production of hemoglobin. This can lead to the production of smaller red blood cells, which can increase the RDW-CV.

Sickle cell anemia: Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells. This can lead to the production of sickle-shaped red blood cells, which can increase the RDW-CV.

Liver disease: Liver disease can lead to a high RDW-CV because the liver is responsible for producing proteins that are necessary for the production of red blood cells.

Kidney disease: Kidney disease can lead to a high RDW-CV because the kidneys are responsible for producing a hormone that is necessary for the production of red blood cells.

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This can lead to a high RDW-CV because thyroid hormone is necessary for the production of red blood cells.

Certain medications: Some medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, can lead to a high RDW-CV.

A high RDW-CV can also be a sign of cancer, but this is rare.

If you have a high RDW-CV, your doctor will likely order additional tests to determine the cause. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the high RDW-CV.