What does a consistently high RDW mean?
RDW (red cell distribution width) measures the variation in size of your red blood cells. A consistently high RDW means your red blood cells vary more in size than normal, which can indicate several things related to your health and lymphoma.
In the context of lymphoma, a high RDW Show Full Answer
What does a consistently high RDW mean?
RDW (red cell distribution width) measures the variation in size of your red blood cells. A consistently high RDW means your red blood cells vary more in size than normal, which can indicate several things related to your health and lymphoma.
In the context of lymphoma, a high RDW may suggest:
- Anemia, which is common with lymphoma when the bone marrow isn't producing enough healthy red blood cells or when red cells are being destroyed by disease
- Nutritional deficiencies like low iron, B12, or folate levels
- Effects from lymphoma treatment on your bone marrow
When you have lymphoma, cancer cells can fill your bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. This can lead to abnormal blood cell production and variations in red blood cell size.
Your healthcare team uses RDW along with other complete blood count (CBC) results to understand how lymphoma and its treatments are affecting your body. If your RDW stays high, your doctor may investigate the underlying cause and adjust your treatment plan or prescribe medications to address any deficiencies or complications.
It's important to discuss your consistently high RDW with your oncology team so they can determine the specific cause and appropriate next steps for your situation.
February 13
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