Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0834-7 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH AND RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH TO 
TOTAL SERUM CALCIUM RATIO AS MAJOR PREDICTORS OF SEVERITY AND 
MORTA LITY IN ACUTE PANCREATITIS  
 
Version: 0 Date: 23 Feb 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Michel  Kahaleh  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
The authors attempt to evaluate the discriminating performance of RDW, RDW -to-TSC ratio and 
other prognostic s cores associated with AP to predict severity and mortality and assigning the 
best cut -off in terms of sensitivity and specificity.  
 
The study is retrospective and doesn't account for intervention provided (ie: Hydration, ERCP, 
drainage, enteral feeding etc. ..) 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscr ipt: 
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially fro m the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write  'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
n/a 
 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal