RT Journal
A1 Perlstein TS, Weuve J, Beckman JA
T1 IS red blood cell distribution width a marker of overall membrane integrity?—reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2009
FD September 12
VO 169
IS 16
SP 1540
OP 1540
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.276
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.276
AB 
As the basis for this suggestion, the authors speculate that RDW is associated with membrane cholesterol content. This is based on the declining prevalence of hypercholesterolemia with increasing RDW quintile. In an additional multivariate-adjusted analysis, the association of hypercholesterolemia with RDW did not persist. Also, circulating cholesterol levels are not associated with total cholesterol content in erythrocyte membranes.2 We do not believe that our data address the association of RDW with membrane cholesterol content. More importantly, we do not believe that our data should in any way be construed as suggesting that statin therapy be withheld from appropriate patients at risk for cardiovascular events, in whom the demonstrated benefits of statin therapy are consistent and compelling.3