Usefulness of monocyte distribution width (MDW) as a sepsis biomarker

ABSTRACT

Sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality in theemergency department (ED), due to the fact that signs andsymptoms are common to other acute diseases, and this canresult in delayed detection. This diagnostic complexity has ahuge impact on an entity in which early recognition determined treatment, as wells as enhance the patient’s prognosis.Therefore, it is crucial to improve early identification. Differentanalytical tools arise from this approach, such as biomarkersprocalcitonin, C-reactive protein or MR-proadrenomedullin. Inthis review we will focus on a newer biomarker, the monocyte distribution width. The main objectives are to evaluate theusefulness of monocyte distribution width (MDW) in sepsisidentification in ED, its limitations, and to compare it with other biomarkers. (AU)