Mean Platelet Volume and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio among Patients with Ulcerative Colitis as an Indicator of Activation

Abstract

Introduction: To determine the changes in mean platelet volume (MPV) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in activation period among patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Overall, 83 patients (49 female and 34 male) diagnosed with UC were retrospectively screened and includ- ed in this study. The complete blood count results, including hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC) count, NLR, platelet count, and MPV, of all patients were recorded in both activation and remission periods. The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and sedimentation levels of all patients were also recorded. Endoscopic disease activities (endoscopic activity index (EAI)) were also noted. Results: Compared with the remission periods, MPV values were statistically significantly lower (p=0.023) and NLR values were statistically significantly higher (p=0.011) in activation periods. In the correlation analysis, MPV levels were correlated with disease age (p=0.019), hemoglobin (p=0.012), WBC count (p=0.009), platelet count (p=0.001), sedimentation rate (p=0.001), CRP levels (p=0.009), and EAI (p=0.008) during activation periods. Conversely, the NLR did not correlate with MPV, hemoglobin, WBC, platelet count, or sedimentation and CRP levels; however, the NLR was also correlated with EAI (p=0.036). Discussion and Conclusion: We have studied two inexpensive, easily applicable, and noninvasive serum biomarkers, MPV and NLR, to determine UC activation and found that these two parameters are well correlated with other inflam- matory markers and EAI.