EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD INDICES IN NON-DIALYSIS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a significant portion of the global population and is often accompanied by various hematological abnormalities. Derived indices of peripheral blood cell count, such as red cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), can provide insights into CKD progression and management. This study aims to evaluate these indices in non-dialysis CKD patients over a one-year period at a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: To assess the levels and variations of RDW, MCV, and MCHC in non-dialysis CKD patients and their association with kidney function parameters, and to determine their utility as prognostic markers. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 200 non-dialysis CKD patients and 50 healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed to measure RDW, MCV, and MCHC using automated hematology analyzers. Kidney function was assessed through serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculations. Data were analyzed to evaluate the correlation between blood indices and kidney function parameters.

Results: The mean RDW in CKD patients was significantly higher (15.3% ± 1.2%) compared to controls (13.2% ± 1.1%), with a strong negative correlation with GFR (r = -0.45) and positive correlation with serum creatinine (r = 0.50). MCV showed a moderate positive correlation with GFR (r = 0.30) and a negative correlation with serum creatinine (r = -0.35). MCHC had weak correlations with both GFR and serum creatinine. RDW was the most indicative of kidney function, while MCV and MCHC provided less specific information.

Conclusion: RDW is a valuable marker for assessing CKD progression and correlates well with kidney function. MCV and MCHC have limited utility in this context. Integrating RDW with other clinical measures may enhance CKD management and patient monitoring.
Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease, Red Cell Distribution Width, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration, Kidney Function