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What Does Elevated RDW Result Signify?
My RDW result was slightly elevated (15.9). Is this significant? I just started taking iron due to the recent discovery of a ferritin level of 8%. I ve been achy and really tired all year so I m relieved to learn of this -- just wondering if the RDW is indicative of something related?
Thu, 22 Jan 2015
Hello there,
RDW helps us to predict if a patient is responding to iron therapy in addition to other things. Since you are on iron therapy the body produces a large set of red blood cells and hence there is variation in the beginning. Gradually it would come down to normal. Your symptoms-aches, fatigue are consistent with iron deficiency which would resolve once your hemoglobin is back to normal.
Hope this helps,
Dr Arun A
RDW helps us to predict if a patient is responding to iron therapy in addition to other things. Since you are on iron therapy the body produces a large set of red blood cells and hence there is variation in the beginning. Gradually it would come down to normal. Your symptoms-aches, fatigue are consistent with iron deficiency which would resolve once your hemoglobin is back to normal.
Hope this helps,
Dr Arun A
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