[16] Serum ferritin, folate or vitamin B12 levels were in normal range in all of the patients and none of the patients had a blood transfusion in the past 6 months. Therefore the RDW increase in this study seems to be related to prostate enlargement. Although not previously correlated with prostate enlargement, elevation of the RDW has been associated with other non-hematologic disease processes including PLX-4720 molecular weight liver disease, malnutrition, heart failure, cardiovascular events, and “occult” colon cancer.[4, 17, 18] None of our patients reported any of the aforementioned disorders or other disorders having chronic inflammatory

or infective processes. Although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the association of the RDW with the aforementioned disorders are unknown, systemic factors that alter erythrocyte homeostasis, such as inflammation, likely play a role.[4-6] In BPH there is enough evidence indicating that chronic inflammation has a crucial role in the development of the disease.[10-14, 19, 20] Emans et al.[21] and Lippi et al.[8] reported a graded association of the RDW with high-sensitivity CRP and ESR independent of numerous confounding factors. In this study, the WBC and CRP were positively related to Roscovitine mw the RDW when used as indicators of inflammation, suggesting that

inflammation has a role in increasing the RDW. It has been suggested that inflammation might contribute to an increased RDW via ineffective 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase erythrocyte production by impairing iron metabolism, by inhibiting erythropoietin and the response to erythropoietin, or by shortening erythrocyte survival rates.[22, 23] One of the inflammatory mediators, interleukin-6 (IL-6), was found to be strongly associated with an elevated RDW in various studies.[7, 24] IL-6 is a strong inducer of hepcidin gene transcription.[25] In the intestine hepcidin decreases iron absorption and inhibits iron release from reticuloendothelial stores.[26] This so-called “reticuloendothelial block” may lead

to the RDW elevation. Thus, hepcidin seems to be the possible connection between inflammation and decreased functional iron availability, leading to elevated RDW levels. Interleukin-6 is also one of the key executors of prostate enlargement. IL-6 as a potential autocrine growth factor has been shown to be the favorite executor of stromal and epithelial growth in BPH.[14, 19] Elevations in the RDW appear to reflect a state of increased inflammation and impaired iron metabolism. Findings suggest the possibility that the RDW may provide an integrated measure of these underlying processes in BPH. Nickel et al. found a relationship between LUTS and prostatic inflammation.[20] A higher IPSS in patients with an elevated RDW, which may reflect the status of inflammation, was found in this study.