Possible new blood test marker for PMR?

[Greenthought]

I have just checked out my results from a recent blood test, the first time I've done this via my GP website instead of by phone call. All normal with CRP etc, except for 'red blood cell distribution width', (RDW) which I now see was slightly higher than normal in previous tests too. (I should add that I still have PMR symptoms with painful shoulders and upper arms, but have never been on pred since a very late diagnosis and gradual improvement without it - see my bio.)

I googled RDW to find out more and see that it is associated with anemia, malnutrition and liver disease. (Recommended action - more folate, B12 in diet.) However, there were also links to some recent research indicating that high RDW can be another indicator of diseases in which inflammation plays a major role. Higher RDW, for example, is found in heart disease patients who are also experiencing depression. More significantly for us, it seems to be associated with diseases that fall under the heading of rheumatology such as Sjogren's, systemic vasculitis etc. Here's what I found:

intermountainhealthcare.org....

ard.bmj.com/content/78/Supp...

(Doesn't seem to show the blue link for some reason, but highlight text then right-click and select 'Go to' and you get there!)

I realise I may well be late to the party, but would be interested to know if anyone else has come across this BT marker, and to hear any thoughts you may have about its usefulness in diagnosis for PMR/GCA and ongoing management. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Seems very general - the papers range from depression to cardiovascular disease to polychondritis. I wonder if it might be useful in patients on Actemra or other IL-6 inhibitors where ESR and CRP are of no use.

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

and keep going to the right to get the other pages!

[Greenthought in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PRM Pro! My lack of science background doesn't help here, so glad to have your wisdom. It would be great if it might be useful to those on IL-6 inhibitors. Interesting, too, that high RDW (in combination with other indicators I think it said) seems to be associated with deaths from sepsis. If nothing else, it's great that they are discovering all this stuff. Who knows? Maybe they will figure out PMR and GCA eventually.