Investigation of relationship between reticulocyte distribution range (RDW) value and proteinuria and other metabolic values in transplant patients

Objective: Studies examining the association of proteinuria and RDW are limited. The aim of our study is to examine the relationship between RDW and proteinuria and other clinical-laboratory findings in patients whom had renal transplantation. Material and Methods: In study, 120 patients whom are followed at Gaziantep University Renal Transplant policlinic are included. The sex, age, blood pressure, comorbidities, drugs, biochemical examination, creatinine clearance and total protein in 24 hour urine collection were investigated. Statistical analysis was performed with using SPSS ver. 22.0 program. P<0,05 is accepted as statistically meaningful. Results: In our study, there is a positive correlation between RDW and PTH((r= 0.305, p<0.01), CRP (r=0.189, p=0.037) and HbA1C (r=0.192, p=0.034) in renal transplant reciever. on the other hand, even though there is a positive correlation between RDW value and urine micrototal protein / creatinin ratio, it is not statistically, meaningful (r=0.177, p=0.052). there is also negative correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate and PTH (r=-0.30, p<0.01), urine micrototal protein / creatinin ratio(r=-0.39, p<0.001). Furthermore, there is positive correltaion between CRP and HbA1C (r=0.24, p=0.008); but negative correlation with CRP and 25-(OH) vitamin D3 (r=-0.228, p=0.012). In addition, PTH is negatively correlated with 25-(OH) vitamin D3 (r=-0.265, p=0.003), but, positively correlated with urine micrototal protein / creatinin ratio (r=0.278, p=0.002). Conclusion: There was positive relationship between RDW and CRP, PTH, HbA1c. Beside this, there was a weak relation between RDW and proteinuria, but it was statistically insignificant. Proteinuria was utmost importance for the graft lost. As an valuable marker for the fibrosis, RDW index was correlated with CRP and weakly with proteinuria, therefore it may be clinic indicator for pathogenetic mechanism of inflammatory processes. Inflammatory processes and fibrosis at the renal level causes proteinüria, so that, finding correlations for these values are important. In our study, patient numbers are low and study group was heretogenic; therefore, correlation between RDW and proteinuria was weak. Studies in more patients and at homogenic groups may reveal better correlations. Further studies with prospective, larger sample size are needed to shed light on this topic. Key Words: reticulocyte distribution width, urine micrototal protein / creatinin ratio, renal transplantation