Red Cell Distribution Width is a strong predictor for Multiple Myeloma

Red cell distribution width is a strong predictor of newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (MM). The study was published in the journal BMC Cancer, 2022.  

Multiple Myeloma is a hematologic malignancy characterized by abnormal clonal plasma cells that affects multiple organs in the body. Anemia, bone diseases, and kidney injury are some of the clinical features of the disease. Even though red cell distribution width (RDW) is a prognostic marker in many diseases like solid tumors, and hematologic neoplasms, its prognostic importance in MM is controversial. Hence, researchers from China conducted a study to understand the relationship between RDW and the clinical prognosis of MM patients through a Systematic meta-analysis.  

By using keywords and following the PRISMA guidelines they extracted data from search engines like PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Relevant parameters were extracted and combined for statistical analysis. The effect sizes were presented as hazard ratio (HR)/odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). HR/OR > 1 in MM patients with high RDW suggested a worse prognosis. Heterogeneity test evaluation was performed using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics. 

Results: 

• 8 articles involving 9 studies with 1165 patients were included in the meta-analysis.
• Elevated RDW was significantly associated with poor prognosis in MM.
• A significant correlation was not found between RDW and International Staging System (ISS) staging. 

 Thus, the researchers concluded that in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients red cell distribution width was a strong predictor of the disease. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09902-9 

Chen, X., Liu, J., Duan, J. et al. Is RDW a clinically relevant prognostic factor for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cancer 22, 796 (2022).