Red cell distribution width in coronary heart disease: prediction of restenosis and its relationship with inflammatory markers and lipids.

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with a poor prognosis and adverse events in cardiovascular diseases. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between serum RDW levels and outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention and to identify potential novel laboratory markers for evaluating the risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) with stable angina pectoris.

Methods: A total of 261 patients with coronary heart disease from Dongfeng General Hospital implanted with a coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) were enrolled in the study. We retrospectively analysed the role and prognosis values of serum parameters that were measured before angiography at the first admission. According to the results of the second angiogram, the patients were divided into two groups as follows: the non-ISR group (n=143) and the ISR group (n=118). The clinical characteristics and all laboratory data were considered for univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: The white cell count, RDW, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen and uric acid levels were higher in the ISR group than in the non-ISR group. There were no differences in the rates of hypertension, fasting plasma glucose, red cell count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet count, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and creatinine levels. In the univariate regression analysis, age, diabetes, white cell count, neutrophil count, RDW, CRP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, blood urea nitrogen, Gensini score and number of stents were predictors of ISR. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, age, RDW and number of stents were independent predictors of ISR.

Conclusions: Preprocedural blood parameters can independently predict ISR. Our study results demonstrated that a high preprocedural RDW is an independent predictor of DES restenosis.