Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio Research Articles

Role of Preoperative Inflammatory Blood Cell Indexes as a Postoperative Risk Predictor Among Patients Undergoing On-Pump Cardiac Surgery.

Estimating patient risk before heart surgery (HS) is crucial. Perioperative inflammation is associated with several complications and mortality. This study investigated blood cell count inflammatory indices (BCCII) to predict risks, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derivate NLR (DNLR), neutrophil-to-platelet-lymphocyte ratio (NLPR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Systemic Inflammatory Index (SII), Systemic Inflammatory Reaction Index (SIRI), and Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI). Data from a cohort of patients undergoing on-pump HS at a single center in Brazil were retrospectively analyzed. Data were obtained from medical records and a laboratory analyzer, and SPSS version 20.0 was used for index calculations and statistical analyses. In total, 444 surgeries were performed, and 40 in-hospital deaths occurred. Except for PLR, all other indexes were independent predictors of death after multivariate adjustment (all p < 0.05). Discrimination performance was absent for PLR and AISI, and NLR, NLPR, and DNLR demonstrated the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC > 0.7; all p < 0.0001). For survivors (n = 404), all indexes exhibited a correlation with the length of hospital stay (all p < 0.03), and NLR, NLPR, and DNLR were predictors (p < 0.026) of poor operative outcomes (acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular attack, cardiac arrest, low cardiac output, prolonged mechanical ventilation, renal failure, and sepsis). All BCCII scores were associated with length of hospital stay. Apart from PLR, all indexes were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Accuracy was highest for NLR, NLPR, and DNLR; for survivors, these three factors were good predictors of poor operative outcomes.

Retraction Note: The association between neutrophil—lymphocyte ratio and poor outcomes following infant cardiac surgery

Retraction Note: The association between neutrophil—lymphocyte ratio and poor outcomes following infant cardiac surgery

Impact of Obesity Severity on Hepatic Steatosis and Systemic Inflammatory Markers: A Comparative Analysis Across Obesity Classes

Introduction: Obesity has become a global health issue, with its prevalence steadily increasing. It is closely linked to several metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and chronic low-grade inflammation and can progress to more severe liver conditions. This study evaluates the relationship between obesity and inflammatory markers in individuals with different obesity levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 patients categorized into three obesity classes based on body mass index (BMI). Blood samples were taken to evaluate inflammatory and metabolic markers, including white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in inflammatory markers such as WBC, NLR, or CRP; a trend toward higher CRP levels was observed in Class 3 obesity. Conclusion: In our study, no statistically significant association was observed between inflammatory markers and the degree of obesity. Although the sample size was relatively small, it is essential to acknowledge that obesity is a multifaceted condition, and genetic variations may play a role in these results.

Long-term outcome of interstitial lung disease in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: a retrospective observational study.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a potentially serious but underdiagnosed manifestation of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). This observational study investigated the prevalence and clinical course of ILD in pSS, together with prognostic factors. A multicenter, retrospective longitudinal study was performed using findings from baseline and follow-up pulmonary function tests and chest computed tomography. Predisposing factors for the development of ILD and acute exacerbation (AE) were identified using a logistic regression model. The risk factors for a significant decline of pulmonary function were determined by the Cox proportional hazard model. A total of 1,306 patients with pSS were included in this study (female, 98%; mean age, 54 years). Among them, 79 patients with pSS were comorbid with ILD. ILD was more frequently found in male, older patients. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia was the most prevalent imaging pattern in pSS-ILD (51%), followed by usual interstitial pneumonia (22%). At diagnosis with pSS-ILD, 54% of patients had restrictive pulmonary function, and 41% of patients initiated pharmacological treatment. During the median 4-year follow-up period, AE, a significant decline in pulmonary function, and death occurred in 19%, 29%, and 9% of patients with pSS-ILD, respectively. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) increased 3 months prior to AE, and it was associated with AE. Older age at pSS-ILD diagnosis was a prognostic factor for a significant decline in pulmonary function. ILD accounted for 6% of the comorbidity of pSS. AE was associated with a significant decline in pulmonary function, and the NLR may predict AE.

Investigation of Blood Count-Based Inflammatory Biomarkers as Predictors of Response to Dupilumab Treatment in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Background/Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a type 2 inflammatory disease often resistant to standard treatments. Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-4α receptor, has shown efficacy in CRSwNP, but a significant subset of patients do not respond to this therapy. This study aims to investigate pretreatment complete blood count (CBC)-based inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of response to dupilumab in patients with CRSwNP. Methods: This mono-centric, retrospective, single-arm longitudinal cohort study included 80 patients with uncontrolled CRSwNP who received dupilumab treatment at the Medical University of Graz. Patients were classified into responder and non-responder groups based on a reduction of &gt;1 in nasal polyp score (NPS) and a sinonasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) score &lt;40 points at six months. Pretreatment CBC-derived biomarkers, including eosinophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic inflammation indices including the aggregate inflammation systemic index (AISI), systemic inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), were analyzed for their predictive value. Results: Of the 80 patients, 72.5% were classified as responders, while 27.5% were non-responders. A significant positive correlation was found between baseline eosinophil count and NPS reduction (p = 0.027), suggesting that higher eosinophil levels may predict higher NPS reduction in dupilumab treatment. However, no significant associations were observed between NLR, PLR, and systemic inflammation indices with treatment outcomes. Conclusions: Pretreatment eosinophil count may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting nasal polyp reduction in dupilumab treatment of CRSwNP. Other CBC-based inflammatory markers did not show significant predictive value. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and explore additional, reliable biomarkers to optimize treatment outcomes for CRSwNP patients.

The effect of anesthesia methods on the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients undergoing forearm surgery: A monocentric and retrospective study.

Surgical trauma can induce systemic inflammation. The selected anesthesia method may modulate the inflammatory response and surgical results in the inflammatory process that occurs during surgical trauma. In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of general anesthesia and peripheral nerve block (infraclavicular block). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory records (hemogram, total leukocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and mean platelet volume) were obtained from the archival data. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group G, who received general anesthesia, and Group P, who received a peripheral nerve block (infraclavicular block) for forearm surgery. The amount of opioid consumed postoperatively was significantly lower in Group P. Infraclavicular block as an alternative to general anesthesia was found to be associated with a significant decrease in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, total leukocyte count, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio levels compared to those observed after general anesthesia. Peripheral nerve blocks may play a role in reducing inflammation and alleviating stress.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with in-hospital heart failure in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention

ObjectiveTo explore the association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and in-hospital heart failure (HF) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MethodsOur present study included 413 patients diagnosed with STEMI and treated with primary PCI. We performed logistic regression models to evaluate the relationship between the NLR and in-hospital HF risk in subjects diagnosed with STEMI. ResultsThe incidence of HF after STEMI increased significantly with increasing NLR tertiles (the incidences of the first, second, and third tertiles were 5.07 %, 13.04 %, and 23.36 %, respectively; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression model showed that elevated NLRs significantly increased the risk of in-hospital HF after adjusting for multiple potential covariates. The risk of HF in the second and third NLR tertile groups was 1.27 times greater (95 % CI, 0.42–3.92) and 3.09 times greater (95 % CI, 1.06–9.02) than that in the first tertile group (P for trend = 0.04). Moreover, the in-hospital HF risk increased by 58 % with per 1-SD increment in the NLR (OR, 1.58; 95 % CI 1.24–2.03; P < 0.001). ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that the NLR is positively correlated with in-hospital HF risk and is an independent predictor for in-hospital HF in STEMI subjects.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is a predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with prediabetes in a National study.

We aimed to investigate the value of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting the all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk of individuals with prediabetes. A total of 11,504 prediabetic patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2016 were included in the present study. Mortality and the underlying cause of death were ascertained by linkage to National Death Index records through December 31, 2019. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was conducted to visualize the association between the NLR and mortality risk. The optimal NLR cutoff value corresponding to the most significant correlation with survival outcomes was calculated by the maximally selected rank statistics method (MSRSM). Weighted multivariable Cox regression models and subgroup analyses were used to calculate HRs and 95% CIs for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. During a median follow-up of 101 months (interquartile range, 64.0-138.0 months), 1654 (14.38%) deaths were documented, including 422 (3.67%) and 1232 (10.71%) due to cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular events, respectively. RCS regression analysis indicated that the NLR was positively associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Individuals were divided into lower (≤2.94) and higher (>2.94) NLR groups using the MSRSM. In the multivariable-adjusted model, compared with the lower NLR group, the higher NLR group had a HR of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.38-1.93) and 2.19 (95% CI, 1.55-3.01) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. The NLR was a valuable marker for predicting all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in prediabetic patients.

Systemic Inflammatory Indices as Predictors of Lung Maturation in Preterm Infants Born Before 32 Weeks of Gestation

AbstractIncreased inflammation in premature infants in the prenatal period reduces respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Several systemic inflammatory indices have been used to evaluate inflammatory responses in different pathologies. Our study aimed to determine the systemic inflammatory indices as predictors of lung maturation in preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation. In this study, preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation were enrolled and categorized based on the diagnosis of RDS. At birth, infants were assessed for various systemic inflammatory indices, including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). The study included 365 infants, of whom 211 had RDS. The median gestational ages (GA) were 27 (range: 25–29) and 30 (range: 29–31) weeks, and the median birth weights were 850 (range: 660–1,360) and 1,375 (1,090–1,600) g in the RDS and control groups, respectively. Infants in the RDS group had significantly lower MLR, NLR, PIV, SII, and SIRI values (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. The cutoff values for predicting RDS in the whole group were 239 for SII, 0.44 for SIRI, and 78 for PIV. For the group of preterm infants born at ≤28 weeks of gestation, values of 171, 0.5, and 87 for SII, SIRI and PIV, respectively, provided the best ability to predict RDS. For the whole cohort, SII level ≥239 was associated with a reduced risk of RDS, as revealed by multivariate analyses (p = 0.001). To account for GA, we performed regression analyses for infants born at ≤28 weeks. SII ≥171 (odds ratio [OR]: 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.3), PIV ≥87 (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03–0.21), and SIRI ≥0.5 (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03–0.2) were associated with a reduced risk of RDS. Inflammation in the perinatal period may reduce the frequency of RDS in premature infants.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Prognostic Nutritional Index as Prognostic Markers for Lung Carcinoma.

Aims/Background Lung cancer (LC) remains one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide, and assessment of its progression is important for ensuring better prognostic outcomes for patients. This study was designed to explore the prognostic role of certain indices, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in patients with LC, to help clinics to better determine the prognosis of patients with LC, and to allow them to intervene in a timely manner. Methods A retrospective analysis of 116 initially diagnosed patients with LC in China from 2018 to 2020 was conducted. The counts of neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM), and monocytes (MON), as well as albumin levels, were obtained from laboratory databases. The PNI was calculated using a specific formula. The progression-free survival (PFS) curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Log-rank test was used to compare survival among different groups. The potential prognostic role of these indicators was assessed with univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results Multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that the PNI (hazard ratio (HR): 0.513, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.288-0.917, p = 0.024), NLR (HR: 2.038, 95% CI: 1.128-3.682, p = 0.018), and tumour type (small cell lung cancer vs. non-small cell lung cancer) (HR: 2.145, 95% CI: 1.308-3.520, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with PFS. The median PFS for patients with low and high PNI was 10 and 11.5 months, respectively. Conclusion The NLR, PLR, and PNI are all significantly associated with the prognostic survival of LC patients.

The Predictive Value of Perioperative Inflammatory Indexes in Major Arterial Surgical Revascularization from Leriche Syndrome.

Objectives: The role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is extensive. Our study aims to assess the predictive role of inflammatory indexes regarding in-hospital mortality in major vascular surgery of Leriche syndrome as a convenient, low-cost, and noninvasive prognostic marker to optimize the patient's perioperative course. Methods: Our retrospective single-center study enrolled consecutive patients diagnosed with aortoiliac occlusive disease, Leriche syndrome, who underwent elective major vascular surgery between 2017 and 2023 in a tertiary cardiovascular center. Preoperative, postoperative, and day-one after-surgery data, including systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio, were studied to the endpoint, in-hospital death. We also tested the delta values of the indexes to the endpoint. The indexes were compared to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) and Vascular Surgery Group Cardiac Risk Index (VSG-CRI) for outcome prediction. Results: The tested inflammatory indexes significantly increased from the preoperative to postoperative and, further, to the day-one settings. Preoperative AISI (p = 0.040) emerged as the only independent risk factor regarding in-hospital death occurrence in Leriche patients who underwent major revascularization surgery. While RCRI did not significantly predict the endpoint (AUC = 0.698, p = 0.057), VSG-CRI (AUC = 0.864, p = 0.001) presented the best result in ROC analysis. Postoperative NLR (AUC = 0.758, p = 0.006) was next, followed by NLR postoperative-preoperative (_Preop-_Postop) delta value (AUC = 0.725, p = 0.004), postoperative SIRI (AUC = 0.716, p = 0.016), SIRI_Preop-_Postop delta value (AUC = 0.712, p = 0.016), postoperative SII (AUC = 0.692, p = 0.032), and SII_Preop-_Postop delta value (AUC = 0.631, p = 0.030). Conclusions: Inflammatory indexes are valuable tools for assessing perioperative risk in major vascular surgery, enhancing the value of the already validated risk scores.

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio In Breast Cancer: Prognostic Value

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio In Breast Cancer: Prognostic Value

Involvement of β-catenin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis in a cohort of patients undergoing curative treatment

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma is a tumor of epithelial origin that arises from the action of different carcinogens on the hepatocytes and has a high worldwide incidence. The prognostic markers of this disease have not been completely established. Mutations in the gene encoding β-catenin are overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of our study was to correlate the molecular expression of β-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma with the already known prognostic markers. MethodsWe conducted an observational and prospective cohort study on adult patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma from whom samples of nontumor and tumor liver parenchyma were taken intraoperatively to correlate the molecular expression of β-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma with the known prognostic markers. ResultsA total of 81 samples were collected, of which 48 met the inclusion criteria. The final sample was divided into patients with a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma on a cirrhotic liver, corresponding to 31 patients (64.6%), and patients with a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma on a noncirrhotic liver, corresponding to 17 patients (35.4%). We found that overexpression of β-catenin and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio are independently related to disease-free survival, and both overexpression and molecular repression of β-catenin are independently related. ConclusionMolecular overexpression of β-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with nontumor tissue is associated with worse disease-free survival, and its combination with a high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio worsens this prognosis.

Neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio and risk of disease progression in patients with nivolumab‑treated unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer.

Studies have associated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with gastric cancer (GC). The present study aimed to examine the relationship between dynamic changes in NLR during treatment and disease progression in patients with unresectable or recurrent GC treated with nivolumab monotherapy as a third-line or later regimen. Patients treated with nivolumab as a third-line or later therapy for unresectable or recurrent GC at Gifu University Hospital (Gifu, Japan) from April 2017 to December 2021 were included. Pretreatment data and those obtained every 2 weeks after the treatment commenced were evaluated. The association between all NLR values and disease progression for each patient was evaluated using a time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves. The study included 44 patients (23 men and 21 women). The response and disease control rates were 6.8 and 27.3%, respectively. The median PFS and OS of all patients were 1.84 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32-2.14] and 5.93 months (95% CI, 3.75-10.75), respectively. The risk for progressive disease (PD) increased with higher NLR (hazard ratio, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.3-3.87). The RCS curves also indicated that the higher the NLR, the higher the risk for PD, especially if the NLR value was <3.0. NLR during treatment could predict the risk of PD, suggesting that NLR could be integrated with tumor markers, computed tomographic images and other modalities to enable treatment selection without delay.

Divergent associations of inflammatory markers with bone turnover markers in elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures

The association between inflammatory markers (IMs) and bone turnover markers (BTMs) in osteoporotic fracture patients has not been comprehensively studied. Therefore, this study examined the correlation between the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), or Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and BTMs in osteoporosis (OP) fracture patients. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 740 OP fracture patients admitted to the hospital from January 2017 to July 2022. MLR, NLR, and PLR were calculated based on each patient’s complete blood count. The relationship between IMs and BTMs was assessed using three models by adjusting variables. Furthermore, the potential curve relationship between IMs and BTMs was also determined via the threshold effect analysis and curve fittings. In addition, stratified analysis was performed on each adjusted variable to confirm the stability of the results. After adjusting the variables, the results showed that NLR was negatively correlated with procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) (β = -1.1788, 95% CI: -1.7230 to -0.6345, P-value < 0.0001) and β-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) (β = -0.0104, 95% CI: -0.0145 to -0.0062, P-value < 0.0001), Furthermore, MLR was negatively correlated with P1NP (β = -17.4523, 95% CI: -27.7335 to -7.1710, P-value = 0.0009) and β-CTX (β = -0.1327, 95% CI: -0.2211 to -0.0443, P-value = 0.0034). However, PLR indicated a positive correlation with P1NP (β = 0.0326, 95% CI: 0.0007 to 0.0645, P-value = 0.0458) and β-CTX (β = 0.0003, 95% CI: 0.0001 to 0.0006, P-value = 0.0204). The threshold effect analysis and curve fittings revealed the presence of a turning point between NLR, MLR, and P1NP, β-CTX. In addition, the stratified analysis validated the result’s stability. In conclusion, this study indicates a negative correlation between NLR and MLR with P1NP, while PLR shows a positive correlation with P1NP. Additionally, NLR and MLR exhibit a negative correlation with β-CTX, whereas PLR demonstrates a positive correlation with β-CTX. Further research is required to assess the intricate mechanisms linking IM with bone metabolism.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and female urinary incontinence: Evidence from the NHANES database.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition in female. Oxidative stress and inflammation levels play important roles in UI progression. Mediterranean diet (MD) as a healthy anti-inflammatory dietary pattern has been reported to be associated with several inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to assess the association between the adherence to Mediterranean diet (aMED) and female UI. Data of study women aged ≥18 years old and diagnosed as stress UI and urgency UI were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018. Dietary intake information was obtained by 24-h dietary recall interview. Covariates included sociodemographic information, physical examination, and history of diseases and medication were extracted from the database. The weighted univariable and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between aMED and different types of UI, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis were further evaluated this association based on different age, body mass index (BMI), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), depression and smoking. Totally, 13,291 women were included, of whom 5,921 (44.55%) had stress UI, 4276 (32.17%) had urgency UI and 2570 (19.34%) had mixed UI. After adjusted all covariates, high aMED score was associated with the lower odds of urgency (OR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.75-0.98) and mixed UI (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.70-0.99), especially in female, aged 45-60 years old, NLR ≥1.68 and had smoking history. No relationship was found between the aMED and stress UI (P >0.05). Greater aMED was connected with the low odds of urgency UI and mixed UI among female. Adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet in daily life are a promising intervention to be further explored in female UI.

Do novel inflammation biomarkers arising from routine complete blood count play a role in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?

Laboratory-based biomarkers accurately presenting systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity may have a practical value in clinical routine. As shown in many other conditions, complete blood count (CBC)-derived biomarkers may also play a role in SLE. We aimed to study for the first time the pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV, monocytes x platelets x neutrophils/lymphocytes) and the more established systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, neutrophils x platelets /lymphocytes) in SLE patients and correlate it with serological and clinical findings including disease outcomes. In this retrospective multicentric investigation, we reviewed the clinical records of 148 SLE who had an available CBC at baseline. The latter served for the determination of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), SII, and the PIV. Control groups were studied as well. Univariable as well as multivariable statistics were employed. The values for baseline systemic immune-inflammation biomarkers (SIIB) studied were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than those observed in healthy controls but comparable to those obtained from patients with other inflammatory conditions. Multivariable analysis revealed that ANA titer > 1:640 remained the only significant (p < 0.0001) baseline predictor of SLE flare (odds ratio: 7.6, 95% CI 3.1 to 18.8). Improvement of SLE following treatment was associated with the absence of lymphopenia as well as ANA > 1:640 (p = 0.041). The SLEDAI-2K significantly correlated with NLR, SII, CRP, lymphocytes, and monocytes only on univariable testing. Compared to healthy controls the CBC-based SIIB investigated are significantly increased in SLE patients. However, SIIB do not appear to be useful in managing SLE clinically. Nevertheless, we confirm that higher ANA titers can predict flares of SLE.

Associations between inflammatory markers and carotid plaques in CKD: mediating effects of eGFR–a cross-sectional study

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern associated with a high prevalence of carotid plaques, which are indicators of atherosclerosis and predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Inflammation is a hallmark of CKD, contributing to both renal dysfunction and cardiovascular complications. This study aims to investigate the association between inflammatory markers—systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), aggregate inflammatory status index (AISI), monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR)—and carotid plaques in CKD patients, and to explore the potential mediating role of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in this relationship.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted on patients admitted to the Division of Nephrology between January 2023 and June 2023. The primary endpoint was the presence of carotid plaques assessed using ultrasound imaging. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between inflammatory markers and carotid plaques, and trend tests were performed to evaluate the trending association of carotid plaques risk and inflammatory markers in tertiles. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to assess potential non-linear relationships, and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine consistency across different strata. Mediation analysis was performed to explore the role of eGFR.ResultsOf the 609 participants, 387 were included in the final analysis after applying exclusion criteria. Elevated levels of LnSIRI (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.25–2.80), LnSII (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.09–2.56), LnAISI (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.22–2.37), LnMHR (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.15–3.26), LnNHR (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.10–3.02), and LnMLR (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.18–4.34) were significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaques. There were significant trends for increasing tertiles of SIRI, AISI, MHR and NHR. RCS analysis showed no significant non-linear associations. Subgroup analyses indicated similar associations across most strata. eGFR partially mediated these relationships, with proportions mediated ranging from 14.7 to 17.5%.ConclusionsInflammatory markers are significantly associated with carotid plaques in CKD patients, with eGFR playing a partial mediating role. These findings highlighted the importance of managing inflammation and maintaining renal function to mitigate the risk of atherosclerosis in CKD patients.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Comparison of Metabolic Syndrome, Autoimmune and Viral Distinctive Inflammatory Related Conditions as Affected by Body Mass Index.

Background: Metabolic inflammation (MI), long COVID (LC) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) share some metabolic common manifestations and inflammatory pathophysiological similarities. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and metabolic age are indicators of health status. The "METAINFLAMMATION-CM Y2020/BIO-6600" project, a prospective controlled study, aimed to identify differential diagnostic tools and clinical features among three inflammatory conditions by comparing obesity status (low BMI vs. high BMI). Methods: A total of 272 adults of both Caucasian and Hispanic descent, diagnosed with MI, LC or SLE, and a range of BMI, were recruited. Clinical and phenotypic traits were measured to analyze body composition, metabolic and inflammatory markers, HRQoL data, metabolic age and lifestyle habits using a 3 × 2 (disease × BMI) factorial design. Results: Some inflammatory related variables, such as fibrinogen, RDW (red cell blood distribution width), ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and NLR (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio), showed effect modifications depending on the BMI and disease type. In relation to HRQoL, the Physical Component Summary (PCS12) showed no relevant changes, while the Mental Component Summary (MCS12) showed a significant effect modification according to the disease type and BMI (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant interaction was identified between the disease type and BMI in relation to metabolic age (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Assessing the impact of BMI on these three inflammatory diseases may help to prevent clinical complications and to design personalized treatments, especially for patients with SLE, who have a worse prognosis with an increased BMI compared to the other two inflammatory diseases.

Prognostic value of pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with brain metastasis from cancer: a meta-analysis

Evidence shows that inflammatory responses play an essential role in the development of brain metastases (BM). The goal of this meta-analysis was to critically evaluate the literature regarding the use of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to predict the prognosis of patients with BM to help clinicians institute early interventions and improve outcomes. We conducted systematic review and meta-analysis, utilizing data from prominent databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Our inclusion criteria encompassed studies investigating the studies that assessed the association between NLR and overall survival (OS). We included 11 articles, with 2629 eligible patients, to evaluate the association between NLR and OS. High NLR was significantly associated with shorter OS, with a pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 1.82 (95% CI 1.57–2.11). Subgroup analysis revealed that this association was consistent across different regions, with HRs of 2.03 (95% CI 1.67–2.46) in Asian populations and 1.58 (95% CI 1.35–1.84) in non-Asian populations. Additionally, in a subgroup analysis based on NLR cut-off values, patients with NLR ≥ 3 had an HR of 1.69 (95% CI 1.46–1.96), while those with NLR < 3 had an HR of 2.26 (95% CI 1.64–3.11). Sensitivity analysis confirmed that no single study significantly influenced the pooled effect size. Our meta-analysis confirmed the prognostic value of NLR in patients with brain metastasis.