Persistent increase in red cell size distribution width after acute diseases: A biomarker of hypoxemia?

As predicted by a model risk pathway linking hypoxia to formation of enlarged RBCs via EPO, acute hypoxemia-related disease episodes induce change in RBC size distribution. Further study is needed to explore whether a more sensitive and specific signal can be extracted from the fine structure of the RBC size distribution routinely measured in automated hemocytometers.