Correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume and early atherosclerosis in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective To investigate the possibility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) as biomarker for early atherosclerosis in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods 420 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the study. They were divided into three groups: patients with normal carotid artery were group A (n=152), patients with unilateral carotid plaque were group B (n=138), patients with bilateral carotid plaque were group C (n=130). Their neutrophil, lymphocyte, mean platelet volume, lipid and glucose, carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT), ankle brachial index (ABI) were all performed in these individuals. Results Compared with group A, the age, systolic pressure, neutrophil count (NC), platelet count (PLT), NLR, PLR, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and CIMT were higher while ABI were lower in group B and group C; Compared with group B, the age, systolic pressure, NC, PLT, NLR, PLR, LDL-C, TC, CIMT and were higher while ABI was lower in group C (P<0.05). CIMT was positively correlated to age, systolic pressure, NLR, PLR, LDL-C, TC, FBG and HbA1c (P<0.05) while ABI was negtively correlated to age, NLR, PLR, LDL-C, FBG and HbA1c (P<0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, after adjustment for age, lipid, glucose and so on, NLR and PLR were also significantly correlated to CIMT and ABI. Conclusions NLR and PLR were significantly correlated with CIMT and ABI in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Therefore, NLR and PLR may have the potential to serve as biomarkers for early arteriosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2/CO/ME; Atherosclerosis/CO/ME; Neutrophils/ME; Lymphocytes/ME; Blood platelets/ME