Background: This study aims to investigate whether the red cell distribution width is an independent cardiovascular risk factor for carotid artery disease.

Methods: The study enrolled 113 symptomatic patients who had carotid artery stenosis ≥50% according to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria with a history of a recent transient ischemic attack or partially recovered cerebrovascular accidents between June 2011 and June 2014. The patients were able to carry on with their daily activities on their own. The control group consisted of 114 patients who did not meet these criteria. All blood samples were obtained after 12 hours of fasting. The red cell distribution width values of the study group and the controls were compared. The red cell distribution width values were also assessed in terms of the possible relation with cardiovascular risk factors and clinical features in the study group.

Results: There was no significant association between the red cell distribution width values and carotid artery stenosis in the study group. The red cell distribution width did not reach significance among the study patients with respect to the preoperative and postoperative clinical features.

Conclusion: Although increased red cell distribution width values may be considered as an epiphenomenon due to an underlying biological or metabolic imbalance, it still necessitates further comprehensive studies to conclude that it is an independent cardiovascular risk factor for carotid artery disease.

Keywords : Carotid artery stenosis; carotid endarterectomy; red cell distribution width