Key clinical point: High red blood cell distribution width (RDW) at diagnosis was associated with poor prognosis and treatment response in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Major finding: High RDW was a significant predictor of poor overall survival (hazard ratio, [HR], 9.741; P = .005) and progression-free survival (HR, 16.74; P = .009). Patients with high RDW had worse treatment responses at 3 months ( P = .03) and 6 months ( P = .02).
Study details : Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 93 patients with newly diagnosed CML-CP and treated with TKIs. Patients were categorized into low (18.65% or lesser; n=58) and high (more than 18.65%; n=35) RDW groups.
Disclosures: No funding source was reported. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Mao XL et al. Medicine. 2021 Mar 12. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024003 .