Value of Red Cell Distribution Width in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Associated- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) commonly occurs as a consequence following untreated congenital heart disease (CHD). It’s often related to high morbidity and mortality rates. The work was aimed at assessing the RDW measurements in children who had PAH-CHD.

Methods: Thirty children who have PAH-CHD took part in this study. Electrocardiography and echocardiographic evaluation were applied to all participants. RDW, a parameter included in complete blood count, was measured.

Results: Our study involved thirty children. Up to 53.3% of them were males, whose age varied between three months and twelve months with median of 5 months. The optimal cutoff RDW measurement reached 17.0% (mean); a significant relation between RDW level and low oxygen saturation was reported (p=0.02), right ventricular fractional area change (p=0.023), and left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.13).

Conclusion: RDW, a parameter included in the standard complete blood count, showed a sagnificant elevation in children who had PAH-CHD children. In addition, it was significantly correlated with hypoxia and right ventricular fractional area change and left ventricular ejection fraction.