Red blood cell distribution width may predict the prognosis of vestibular neuritis

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to determine whether red cell distribution width (RDW), as well as other inflammatory markers of complete blood count, have any predictive value for the etiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of vestibular neuritis (VN). Patients and Methods: Forty-two VN patients (28 females, 14 males; mean age: 46.7±11.0 years; range, 20 to 75 years) and 50 controls (32 females, 18 males; mean age: 44.4±6.0 years; range, 22 to 55 years) were included in the retrospective study between May 2016 and May 2018. Red cell distribution width and neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, and monocyte levels were documented from the hemogram records of all patients. Additionally, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio were calculated. Results: In the VN group, NLR and PLR values were significantly high (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Red cell distribution width, platelet, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels were significantly high and hemoglobin was significantly low in VN patients with long-lasting spontaneous nystagmus (p<0.001, p=0.026, p=0.033, p=0.047, and p=0.006, respectively). Conclusion: High RDW and low hemoglobin levels may predict a poor prognosis in adult VN patients. Moreover, a low lymphocyte-monocyte ratio and high NLR and PLR values are supportive findings in the diagnosis of vestibular neuritis.