Interrelation between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and chronic lower limb ischemia

Abstract

Purpose. The aim is to study the specifics of neutrophil - lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with chronic lower extremity ischemia. Material and methods . In the course of the prospective study, the analysis of the NLR parameters in 282 patients with peripheral arterial occlusions was performed. All patients were divided into 4 groups, according to the classification of peripheral arterial disease - TASC II. Evaluation of the NLR parameters was performed on admission before surgical or conservative treatment administration. Results. The average NLR number by groups was as follows: TASC A – 2.76 ± 0.72; TASC B – 4.00 ± 1.2; TASC C – 4.5 ± 2.38 and TASC D – 5.15 ± 2.09. NLR level significantly increased with a greater degree of TASC II. The indices of NLR were significantly higher in patients with a more “aggressive” and multilevel type of lesions, namely TASC II C and D. In patients with lesions type D the level of NLR was 46.4 % more than in patients with TASC II type A lesion. Conclusions. The value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was 29.8 % (P < 0.05) higher in patients with C and D atherosclerotic lesion types according to TASC II classification than in patients with lesions of type A and B. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio greater than 3.05 could be interpreted as a marker of more diffuse lower limb atherosclerotic lesion given the sensitivity and specificity levels (70.7 %, 75.8 %; P < 0.001).