Relation of Disease Severity with Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Mean Platelet Volume in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by symmetrical erosive synovitis. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) have been widely used to determine the severity of inflammation. Objectives: We aimed to investigate NLR and MPV values in RA population further assessing the relation between these indices, inflammatory markers and disease activity scores. Material and Methods: The present study was performed between March 2012 and March 2013, and designed retrospectively. Total 156 patients of RA were included. Results: The NLR was higher in active disease group but there was not significant difference between the remission group and active disease group (p: 0.616). Also NLR of low disease activity group, moderate disease activity group and high disease activity group were 1.98±0.71, 2.26±1.04, and 3.11±2.16 respectively. There is significant difference between groups (p: 0.030). The MPV of remission group and active disease group were 8.54±0.78 fl and 8.89±0.99 fl, respectively and there is no significant difference between both groups (p: 0.126). Also the MPV of remission group, low disease activity group, moderate disease activity group and high disease activity group were 9.31±1.09 fl, 8.91±0.98 fl, 8.71±0.97 fl, respectively. Although MPV is reduced in patients with higher disease activity, it was found that there was no significant difference between the groups (p: 0.206). Conclusions: NLR can be a useful marker to assess disease activity in RA patients. Increased NLR values ​​may indicate increased disease activity. Whereas, there is a need for comprehensive studies to claim that average platelet volume as an indicator of disease severity in RA patients.