ASSESSMENT OF BASIC HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES AND CLINICAL SEVERITY IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE WITH PERIPHERAL BLOOD NEUTROPHIL LYMPHOCYTE RATIO.

Abstract

Introduction: A wide variety of hematological manifestations occur in chronic liver disease. Mild to moderate anemia and thrombocytopenia are the most common hematological abnormalities. Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, a novel inammatory biomarker can be used to predict mortality independent of Child-Turcotte-Pugh score in liver cirrhosis. Material And Methods: A cross sectional prospective study was conducted in 100 patients to assess hematological abnormalities and to correlate Neutrophil - Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score for prediction of clinical outcome. NLR and CTP score were correlated using Chi square test and Spearman correlation test. Results: Mild anemia was common in females (61%) whereas moderate anemia was common in males (45%). Anemia was seen in 86% and thrombocytopenia in 72% of cases. Hypochromic microcytic anemia was the most common morphological type of anemia seen in chronic liver disease. NLR had a signicant positive correlation with CTP score in this study (r=0.288 and p=0.003). Conclusions: Mild anemia and moderate thrombocytopenia were the most common hematological abnormalities in chronic liver disease. Early diagnosis and correction of these abnormalities will reduce mortality. Neutrophil-Lymphocyte ratio can be used as an independent prognostic tool to predict clinical severity in chronic liver disease.