What is PDW Full Form in Medical?
PDW Full Form in Medical term is Platelet Distribution Width. The distribution of individual platelet volumes is used to compute the platelet distribution width (PDW), a measure of platelet anisocytosis. A measure of the mass of circulating platelets, thrombocrit (also known as plateletcrit) is the proportion of blood volume that is made up of platelets. It indicates the degree of similarity in platelet size (range 25-65). A high PDW indicates significant size variation, which could be linked to specific malignancies or vascular (blood vessel) diseases.
What it measures:
PDW, which has a normal range of 25–65, gauges how comparable platelets are in size. A wide range in platelet size is indicated by a high PDW.
What it indicates:
PDW is an indicator of platelet activation and function. It may be linked to cancer, vascular disease, and other illnesses:
- Cancer: PDW can be a sign for children’s leukemia screening.
- Cardiovascular illness: Pulmonary embolism and coronary artery disease are linked to PDW.
- Respiratory condition: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is linked to PDW.
- Critical sickness: Patients with critical illness who have PDW have higher rates of morbidity and mortality.
An elevated risk of 90-day mortality and a more severe clinical picture are linked to higher PDW values at admission to internal medicine wards.