Hello, I Am Concerned As My RDW Is Quite High

Posted on Sat, 8 Jun 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 8 Jun 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, i am concerned as my RDW is quite high around 18. Alll other tests on CBC, are normal. Is this a cause for concern and what can i do to lower it? Also, i am taking accutane, would this affect that number?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It's not of concern

Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for your query.

RDW by itself is not a parameter of concern. It's only use is to find out the type of anemia or low hemoglobin. If hemoglobin is normal then RDW has no clinical significance.

Hence you don't need to do anything to bring it down. Accutane is not likely to be causing this anyway.

Hope this answers your query.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana