Effect of Left Ventricular Assist Devices on Red Blood Cell Distribution Width

Objectives: Red blood cell distribution width is a measure of the variability in the size of circulating erythrocytes, which is calculated by automated blood cell counters as part of a routine blood cell count analysis. Our aim was to examine whether continuous flow left ventricular assist devices affected red blood cell distribution width. Materials and Methods: Our study included 16 of 24 patients who received a HeartWare HVAD Pump (HeartWare Inc, Framingham, MA, USA) implant (continuous flow left ventricular assist device) between April 2012 and February 2015 at our institution. The mean age of the patients was 46.6 years. We compared patient erythrocyte, leucocyte, and platelet counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume, and red blood cell distribution width values before and 6 months after implant. Results: Hemoglobin level (P=.008), hematocrit level (P=.027), and mean corpuscular volume (P=.003) were significantly decreased; however, we observed no significant change in red blood cell distribution width. Conclusions: Although we did not find significant results in our group of patients with left ventricular assist device implant, a larger group of patients may show more significant results, and an increase in red blood cell distribution width can be used as an indicator of a negative prognosis in these patients.