Evaluation of the Relationship Between Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), and Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) with Disability Severity and Annual Relapse Rate in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Referred to the MS Clinic of Kashani Hospital

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan, Iran

2 Professor, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Clinical instructor and Family Physician Associate, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada

10.48305/jims.v43.i826.0941

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and the relationship between complete blood count (CBC) indices and MS remains incompletely understood. This study was conducted to assess the association between different CBC parameters with demographic and clinical features of MS patients compared with healthy controls.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,764 participants (729 MS patients and 1,035 healthy controls) at the MS Specialty Clinic of Kashani Hospital. Blood samples were collected for CBC analysis, and demographic and clinical data were recorded.
Findings: All CBC indices except red blood cell (RBC) count and hematocrit (HCT) showed significant associations with MS. We observed higher levels of hemoglobin (HB) (Est. = 1.407; P < 0.001), hematocrit (HCT) (Est. = 3.937; P < 0.001), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (Est.=1.482; P = 0.042), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (Est. = 0.443; P = 0.011) in male patients. Patients with autoimmune comorbidities demonstrated lower RBC counts (Est. = -7.440; P < 0.001) and hemoglobin levels (Est. = -2.610; P < 0.001) compared to those without such comorbidities. HB (Est. = 1.447; P=0.025), HCT (Est. = 4.877; P = 0.002), and MCV (Est. = 5.670; P = 0.027) were higher in primary progressive MS (PPMS) than in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. No association was found between the initial Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) assessment and CBC indices.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to understanding the role of systemic inflammation in MS pathophysiology, though further research is needed to determine the diagnostic or prognostic value of CBC in MS.

Highlights

Maryam Derakhshan: Google Scholar

Azar Baradaran: Google Scholar 

Behzad Azarmju: Google Scholar

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 826
2nd Week, October
September and October 2025
Pages 941-947

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 July 2025

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