In iron deficiency anemia, RDW is typically what?

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Multiple Choice

In iron deficiency anemia, RDW is typically what?

RDW measures how much red blood cell sizes vary. In iron deficiency anemia, the process of impaired hemoglobin synthesis causes a mix of sizes as some cells become microcytic while others remain relatively larger, creating more anisocytosis. As iron stores decline and microcytosis becomes more pronounced, this variation often increases, so RDW is typically elevated. Early in the disorder, RDW might still appear normal, but the classic and most common finding as iron deficiency progresses is a high RDW.

RDW measures how much red blood cell sizes vary. In iron deficiency anemia, the process of impaired hemoglobin synthesis causes a mix of sizes as some cells become microcytic while others remain relatively larger, creating more anisocytosis. As iron stores decline and microcytosis becomes more pronounced, this variation often increases, so RDW is typically elevated. Early in the disorder, RDW might still appear normal, but the classic and most common finding as iron deficiency progresses is a high RDW.

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