Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width in predicting 3-month functional outcome of patients undergoing thrombolysis treatment for acute ischemic stroke

This study was performed to determine whether red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with 3-month poor functional outcome in patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. RDW was measured in patients with thrombolytic therapy in emergency department. Functional outcome was assessed after 3 months and poor functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale 3 to 6. A total of 240 patients were enrolled, and 82 (34.2%) had a poor functional outcome. The median RDW was significantly elevated in patients with a poor functional outcome compare with those with a good outcome. RDW was independently associated with a 3-month poor functional outcome (odds ratio 3.369, 95% confidence interval 2.214–5.125). The optimal RDW cutoff for predicting 3-month poor functional outcome was 12.8%, and the area under the curve for RDW was 0.818 (95% confidence interval 0.761–0.876). The area under the curve for RDW was higher in male patients than in female patients. The RDW correlated positively with the modified Rankin scale score after 3 months and the initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. Initial higher RDW level is related to a 3-month poor functional outcome in patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke.