Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio Research Articles

RELATIONSHIP OF NEUTROPHIL LYMPHOCYTE RATIO WITH APPENDICITIS INCIDENCE Review of Appendicitis Patients at Ibnu Sina Hospital, Gresik Regency in 2022-2023

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the incidence of acute appendicitis in patients at Ibnu Sina Hospital, Gresik Regency, in the 2022-2023 period. Acute appendicitis is a frequent emergency surgical condition, especially in adolescents and young adults, with the risk of complications such as perforation and peritonitis. NLR, as an indicator of inflammatory response, is considered more practical and economical than CT scans and ultrasounds, which have limited cost, accessibility, and risk of radiation exposure. This study used an observational analytical method with a cross-sectional approach on 51 appendicitis patients who underwent appendectomy. NLR data was obtained through routine blood results, with statistical analysis using SPSS to test the normality and difference in NLR values between uncomplicated appendicitis and appendicitis with complications. There was a significant difference in the mean NLR value between patients with complementary and non-complementary appendicitis, with a p < value of 0.001. The results of the ROC Curve analysis show that NLR has a high prediction value in predicting complementary appendicitis of 97.5%. This study concludes that NLR can be an effective indicator in distinguishing cases of complementary and non-complementary appendicitis and the potential of NLR as an easy and efficient screening tool in the treatment of acute appendicitis, especially in health facilities with limited resources.

Diffusion weighted MRI and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio non-invasively predict infection in pancreatic necrosis: a pilot study.

Infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a major determinant of mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP). Non-invasive diagnosis of IPN could guide the intervention in AP. We aimed to investigate the role of non-invasive methods like diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and clinico-laboratory parameters as predictors of IPN. Prospective evaluation for predictors of IPN by diffusion restriction (DR) on DW-MRI and clinico-laboratory parameters was performed. Out of 39 patients included, 31 were analysed after exclusion. Twenty-six (83.8%) patients had moderately severe AP, and the rest had severe disease. They were categorized into Group A: patients with documented infection after intervention (n = 17) and Group B: successfully managed without intervention or negative culture after intervention (n = 14). On univariate analysis, Group A had significantly more incidence of fever (P = 0.020), persistent unwellness (P = 0.003), elevated neutrophil count (P = 0.007), lymphocyte count (P = 0.007), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P = 0.028), DR on DW-MRI (P = 0.001) and low apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) (P = 0.086). Multivariate analysis revealed DR on DW-MRI (P = 0.004) and NLR (P = 0.035) as significant predictors of IPN, among other factors. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of DW-MRI were 94.1%, 78.6%, 91.66%, and 84.21%, respectively. The area under curve of NLR on the ROC plot was 0.85 and the best cutoff was >3.5, with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 70.6%, 78.6%, 80%, and 68.7% respectively. DW-MRI and NLR are promising non-invasive tools for accurate prediction of IPN and hence can guide the need for intervention in acute pancreatitis.

Association of uremic toxins and systemic inflammation with depression and anxiety among hemodialysis patients in Montenegro.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between uremic toxins, inflammation, depression and anxiety among hemodialysis patients in Montenegro. The cross-sectional study included 88 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The standard laboratory methods were used to measure uremic toxins and systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR)). Clinically significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and anxiety (BAI ≥16) were found in 55.7% and 27.2%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses revealed that serum urea, beta 2-microglobulin (B2M), and systemic inflammation (CRP, NLR, PLR) were significantly and independently associated with depressive symptoms, whereas serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, B2M, and systemic inflammation (CRP nad NLR) were associated with anxiety symptoms. Depressive symptoms and anxiety are common among hemodialysis patients in Montenegro, and are associated with increased levels of systematic inflammation, serum urea, and beta 2-microglobulin.

Development and validation of a prognostic model for cachexia in postoperative gastric cancer patients with low nutritional risk: a dual-center retrospective cohort study.

Gastric cancer can lead to excessive catabolism in patients. After undergoing gastric surgery, patients may experience additional unintended weight loss, resulting in severe malnutrition and potentially cachexia. We selected and incorporated patients from two centers. Cohort 1 (n = 1393) served as the development cohort, while cohort 2 (n = 501) was designated as an external validation cohort. Within cohort 1, 70% of the patients were utilized for model training, with the remaining 30% reserved for internal validation. The training set initially underwent univariate logistic regression, followed by multivariate logistic regression. The factors ultimately incorporated were used to construct the model and create nomograms. The discriminative ability was assessed using ROC curves in all three datasets, calibration curves were used to evaluate consistency, and decision curves analysis was performed to assess the clinical application value. The model incorporated 12 factors, specifically: age (OR = 1.07), preoperative BMI (OR = 0.89), surgery type (Total Gastrectomy (TG), OR = 1.83), chemotherapy (yes, OR = 1.52), stage (III, OR = 1.40), anastomotic obstruction (yes, OR = 6.85), Postsurgical Gastroparesis Syndrome (PGS) (yes, OR = 2.27), albumin (OR = 0.95), hemoglobin (OR = 0.98), triglycerides (OR = 0.36), CRP (OR = 1.07), and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) (OR = 1.05). The model demonstrated robust performance in ROC with AUC values of 0.805 in the training set, 0.767 in the validation set, and 0.795 in Cohort 2. Calibration curves in all three datasets exhibited a high degree of concordance between actual and predicted probabilities. Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that the model holds substantial clinical utility across all three datasets. We have developed a predictive model for cachexia in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery. This model enables healthcare professionals to accurately estimate the risk of cachexia in postoperative patients with nutritional deficits, allowing for timely nutritional interventions to enhance patient quality of life and prognosis.

Systemic immune-inflammation mediates the association between Klotho protein and metabolic syndrome: findings from a large-scale population-based study.

This study utilized large-scale population data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to elucidate the relationship between the Klotho protein and metabolic syndrome along with its components. We further investigated the possible mediating effect of inflammation on these relationships. Our objective was to identify biomarkers for risk stratification and potential therapeutic targets for metabolic syndrome. This study enrolled 13,119 participants aged 40-79 years, spanning five NHANES cycles from 2007 to 2016, with complete information on metabolic syndrome and the Klotho protein. The definition of metabolic syndrome followed the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. Survey-weighted logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to explore the associations between serum Klotho protein levels and metabolic syndrome, along with its components. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the mediating effects of inflammation-related markers, including white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and the monocyte-to-HDL ratio (MHR), with the aim of elucidating how the Klotho protein influences the onset and progression of metabolic syndrome. The study participants had an average age of 56.06 years (95% CI: 55.76-56.37), with a Klotho protein concentration of 798.10 pg/ml (95% CI: 656.50-980.50) and a 43.77% prevalence of metabolic syndrome (n = 5742). In the crude model, Klotho was negatively correlated with metabolic syndrome and its components, including central obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia. After adjusting for all confounding factors, Klotho was demonstrated to be negatively associated only with metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.97), hypertension (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70-0.98), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67-0.91). Subgroup and interaction analyses revealed significant interactions between age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and Klotho. Additionally, mediation analysis demonstrated that leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes accounted for 34.78%, 31.91% and 7.13%, respectively, of the associations between Klotho and metabolic syndrome. The serum concentration of Klotho protein was negatively associated with metabolic syndrome, with the relationship being partly mediated by systemic immune inflammation. The findings of this research revealed that the Klotho protein may be a valuable biomarker for risk stratification and a potential therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome.

Optimal Timing of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as Early Predictors of Neurological Outcomes in Postcardiac Arrest Patients

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been recognized as predictors of various critical illnesses. Our study aimed to investigate whether the NLR and PLR measured at different timepoints could predict poor neurological outcomes at 6 months. This observational retrospective cohort study included adults who had experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and received targeted temperature management between November 2015 and December 2020. Patients with an active infection, as confirmed by an initial blood culture, were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the association between the NLR and PLR at 0, 24, and 48 h after return of spontaneous circulation and poor neurological outcomes, defined as a Cerebral Performance Category score of ≥3 at 6 months. The NLR at 24 h, but not the NLR or PLR at other timepoints, was significantly associated with poor neurological outcomes (odds ratio: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01–1.09; p = 0.018). The NLR at 24 h showed moderate accuracy in predicting poor neurological outcomes, with an AUC of 0.619. A cutoff value of 9.0 achieved 72.5% sensitivity and 47.7% specificity. The NLR measured at 24 h after ROCS could be used for early neuroprognostication given its low cost and widespread availability.

The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in cardiovascular patients

This study investigates the relationship of neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. The data for this analysis came from 2239 participants with cardiovascular disease of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1999–2018. The optimal cutoff point for NLR was determined using maximally selected rank statistics. Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression models to assess the impact of NLR on the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Restricted cubic spline was used to visualize the association of NLR with mortality risk. Subgroup analysis was performed to examine the relationship between NLR and mortality within subgroups based on age, sex, diabetes and hypertension. During a median follow-up period of 6.7 (IQR, 3.3–10.9) years, 992 all-cause deaths occurred, including 381 cardiovascular deaths. Our study revealed that NLR is a risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR: 1.15 95%Cl: 1.11 ~ 1.19) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.14 95%Cl: 1.08 ~ 1.2) among patients with cardiovascular disease. The restricted cubic spline regression analysis showed a non-linear association between NLR and all-cause mortality (p < 0.05 for nonlinearity) in cardiovascular patients. This association remained robust in subgroup analyses stratified by age, sex, diabetes, and hypertension. Conclusion NLR stands as a significant risk factor for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with cardiovascular disease.

Diagnostic role of the neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio and the platelet‑to‑lymphocyte ratio in breast cancer: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) may be indicative of breast cancer (BC); however, this remains inconclusive. With the aim to assess the current literature to evaluate the diagnostic roles of NLR PLR and LMR in BC, a systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP database and China Biology Medicine disc databases up to August 29, 2023. The standardized mean deviation and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each outcome was reported, and heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Overall, 39 studies were included in the present study. Pooled analysis with the random-effects model demonstrated that patients with BC had significantly higher NLR and PLR, and a lower LMR, compared with non-BC subjects. The pooled sensitivities of the NLR and PLR were 0.68 (95% CI, 0.59-0.75) and 0.55 (95% CI, 0.36-0.72), respectively, and the pooled specificities of the NLR and PLR were 0.75 (95% CI, 0.68-0.81) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.51-0.94), respectively. However, the limited number of studies included hindered the evaluation of the diagnostic role of LMR. In summary, a higher NLR and PLR and lower LMR were associated with the presence of BC. NLR and PLR may be potential blood-based biomarkers for the differentiation of BC. Despite these findings, further studies are needed to validate their clinical applicability and practicality. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration no. CRD42024522226.

087. Relationship Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Preoperative Thyroidectomy as Predictors of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer has been increasing. Early diagnosis and management are crucial for thyroid cancer. Therefore, the availability of predictive biomarkers for papillary thyroid cancer is important. This study aims to determine whether the preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) levels can be used as predictors of papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: Ninety-one patients with thyroid nodules who underwent thyroidectomy surgery at RSUP Prof. DR. R.D. Kandou were retrospectively analyzed. Complete blood count with differential count and serum TSH levels were taken before thyroidectomy. Results: The relationship between TSH levels and papillary thyroid cancer was significant, with a p-value of 0.025, sensitivity of 51.1%, and specificity of 73.9%. The relationship between NLR and papillary thyroid cancer was also significant, with a p-value of &lt;0.001, sensitivity of 68.9%, and specificity of 100%. However, the combination of NLR and TSH did not show a synergistic effect as predictors of papillary thyroid cancer due to several unstudied factors, such as IL-6, IL-37, ROS, NO, and NK cells, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer. The limitations of this study include its retrospective cross-sectional design and the lack of further investigation into other factors, such as IL-6, IL-37, ROS, NO, and NK cells, due to limited facilities and time. Conclusion: Both NLR and TSH can be used as predictors of papillary thyroid cancer. NLR is more potent than TSH as a predictor.

Impact of oral isotretinoin on the inflammatory markers: can lymphocyte/HDL-C and platelet/HDL-C ratios be new indicators of inflammation in acne vulgaris patients?

Introduction The effect of isotretinoin on inflammatory markers has been reported with conflicting results. No studies have been reported on the relationship between isotretinoin and lymphocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] ratio (LHR), neutrophil/HDL-C ratio (NHR), or platelet/HDL-C ratio (PHR) in acne patients. Objectives We aimed to investigate how isotretinoin affects the inflammatory markers, including LHR, NHR, and PHR, in acne vulgaris patients. Methods A total of 361 patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris who received systemic isotretinoin for at least six months were included. Complete blood count and biochemical analyses, including monocyte/HDL-C ratio (MHR), NHR, LHR, PHR, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), obtained at the treatment onset and the end of the first, third, and sixth months of treatment were investigated. Results There was no significant difference in MHR and NHR levels between repeated measures. A significant increasing trend was seen in LHR and PHR (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). HDL-C levels gradually and significantly declined during the six months (P < 0.001). Serum NLR, derived NLR, SII, SIRI, MLR, and AISI showed a significant decrease in line with clinical improvement in acne during the six months of therapy (P < 0.05). Conclusions Declining levels of NLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI may indicate the anti-inflammatory effects of isotretinoin on the pilosebaceous unit, whereas increasing levels of LHR and PHR may show systemic inflammatory activity of isotretinoin.

A nomogram of inflammatory indexes for preoperatively predicting the risk of lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer

PurposeTo investigate the independent risk factors associated with the development of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), focusing on preoperative systemic inflammatory indicators, and to construct a corresponding risk predictive model.Materials and MethodsThe clinical data of 241 patients with CRC who underwent surgery after the first diagnosis between January 2012 and December 2017 at our hospital were reviewed. A best logistic regression model was constructed by Lasso regression for multivariate analysis, from which a Nomogram was derived. Using bootstrap to conduct internal validation. The model’s predictive performance and clinical practicability were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). External validation was conducted using retrospective data from 170 patients who underwent surgery between January 2020 and May 2022 at another hospital.ResultsCross-validation indicated smoking history, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), fibrinogen-albumin ratio (FAR), and fecal occult blood (FOB) as variables with non-zero coefficients. These factors were included in the logistic regression, and multivariate analysis confirmed that smoking history, NLR, LMR, FAR, and FOB were independent risk factors (P < 0.05). The ROC and calibration curve of the original model and external validation indicated strong predictive power of the model. DCA suggested the model’s favorable clinical utility.ConclusionsThe model constructed in this study has robust predictive performance and clinical utility for the preoperative determination of CRC LMN, offering significant for clinical decision-making in patients with CRC.

Predictive Value of GINI and ALBI Grades in Esophageal Cancer Receiving Chemoradiotherapy

Objectives: The principal objective of this study was to assess the predictive efficacy of the global immune–nutrition–inflammation index (GINI) and the albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score among patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 46 patients who received definitive or neoadjuvant radiotherapy for esophageal cancer at our institution. Blood samples were collected from these patients prior to the initiation of radiotherapy to measure the biomarkers, including the C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte–lymphocyte ratio (MLR), the global immune–nutrition–inflammation index (GINI), and the albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) grade. The predictive significance of these biomarkers for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated using both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results: The median follow-up time for this study was 19.5 months (range: 2.6–166.3 months). Univariate analysis revealed that the platelet count (p = 0.003) and monocyte count (p = 0.04) were significant predictors of PFS. In the multivariate analysis, only the platelet count (p = 0.005) remained an independent predictor of PFS. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the neutrophil count (p = 0.04), lymphocyte count (p = 0.01), NLR (p = 0.005), PLR (p = 0.004), CRP (p = 0.02), ALBI grade (p = 0.01), and GINI (p = 0.005) were significant predictors of OS. Multivariate analysis identified the GINI as a predictor of OS, approaching statistical significance (p = 0.08). Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that the pretreatment GINI and ALBI grades are significantly and independently associated with the OS rates in patients with esophageal cancer who are undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Prediction of the outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage by blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio: a prospective observational study.

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is defined as bleeding within the brain parenchyma. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a dynamic parameter that can be affected by an underlying condition like microangiopathy (e.g. hemorrhagic stroke). The NLR value at the time of stress (e.g. ICH) could be a predictor among various other factors on the outcome of the disease. The aim of this study is to see if NLR could be a predictor of the outcome of the ICH. This is a prospective observational study conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neurology, from March 2020 to February 2021. The ICH cases presented to the emergency department within 24h of symptoms were included. The baseline haematological and biochemical investigations were sent and the noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) head was done for the diagnosis of ICH. The NLR was measured. The ICH volume was calculated by ABC/2. Follow-up of the patient to measure outcome was done with a modified Rankin scale (mRS) on 30 days. Student's t-test was used to correlate NLR-mRS. Fischer's exact test was used for a categorical association of NLR to mRS. A total of 89 patients with ICH were enrolled in this study. In this study, 62.92% of patients had good outcomes (NLR of 4.88±3.06), whereas 37.08% of patients had bad outcomes (NLR of 9.09± 4.92). Statistically, higher NLR was significantly predictive of poorer outcomes. ICH causes stress in the body, which alters the value of NLR. Components of NLR are altered after haemorrhage due to a change in homeostasis of brain parenchyma. The NLR value obtained at the time of emergency department visits may help to predict the 30 days outcome of ICH.

The role of neutrophils-lymphocytes ratio (NLR), lymphocytes-monocytes ratio (LMR), platelets-lymphocytes ratio (PLR) in oral cancer and acute dental infections

Objectives: The present study was a cross-sectional observational study, which was carried out on patients reported to the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. This study aims to evaluate the hemogram parameters NLR, LMR, and PLR among 90 Patients. Methods: Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A consists of 30 patients with histopathological confirmed oral cancer. Group B consists of 30 patients who presenting acute dental infections. Group C consists of 30 patients clinically healthy subjects. The hemogram parameters NLR, LMR and PLR were compared in the 3 groups and we studied their correlation to the clinical prognostic indicators like T stage, to the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis, and to differentiation of cancer. After obtaining personal informed consent, a thorough examination of the oral cavity and the lesion was conducted with an illuminated light and mouth mirror. Blood tests were performed on all the subjects before treatment. Under aseptic conditions, Venous blood (2 ml) was collected by venepuncture of the median cubital vein in the cubital fossa of the forearm using a disposable syringe with a 24-gauge needle. The withdrawn blood was transferred into an EDTA-containing test tube. Haematological parameters were analysed using an automated haematology analyzer. NLR, LMR, and PMR were calculated as the ratio of absolute peripheral neutrophil to lymphocyte, lymphocyte to monocyte, and platelet to lymphocyte count, respectively. Results: The present study revealed that NLR is significantly elevated in oral carcinoma compared to healthy individuals, but is lesser than in patiemts with acute dental infections. LMR is higher in oral carcinoma than in acute dental infections and healthy individuals, but no statisticaly significant difference was detected among the groups. PLR is higher in oral carcinoma than in Acute dental infections and healthy individuals, and it is statistaicaly significant. There are significant correlations in oral carcinoma between NLR, LMR, and PLR. NLR has a positive correlation with PLR and a negative correlation with LMR, which showed clinical significance as determined by the Spearman correlation coefficient. In Acute dental infections and healthy individuals, there is a significant correlation of NLR with LMR and PLR but no significant correlations between LMR and PLR and vice versa. NLR, LMR, and PLR were correlated to clinical prognostic indicators like T stage, presence or absence of lymph node metastasis, and differentiation of cancer. There is no significant difference in NLR, LMR, or PLR ratios concerning Clinical T staging since the p-value is greater than 0.05 for NLR, LMR, and PLR (p= 0.072, 0.446, 0.446, respectively). A statistically significant difference is found in LMR to the clinical presence or absence of Lymph node metastasis since the p-value is less than 0.05 only for LMR (p=0.018). The mean values of LMR in N0, N1, and N2 were 9.49, 5.65, and 4.40, respectively; this implies that the mean value of LMR decreases in advanced oral carcinoma as the nodal stage increases with lymph node metastases. A statically significant difference is found in NLR (p=0.011) and PLR (p =0.013) for differentiation of tumour (p-value is less than 0.05), which implies NLR &amp; PLR values are elevated in moderate differentiated oral carcinomas when compared to well-differentiated oral carcinoma. Conclusions: A significant elevation exists in haematological parameters like NLR, LMR, and PLR in oral carcinoma and acute dental infections.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts poor prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease-related pulmonary hypertension: A retrospective study.

Inflammation plays a crucial role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Considering that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has recently emerged as a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in many chronic diseases, we aimed to investigate the association between NLR and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD-related PH. A total of 176 hospitalized patients with predialysis CKD-related PH were recruited retrospectively from January 2012 to June 2020 by reviewing electronic medical records. The NLR and clinical characteristics of the patients were included in the current analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the association between NLR and the incidence of all-cause mortality. Baseline NLR values were associated with hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate and C-reactive protein. During a median follow-up period of 32.5 (11.3-53.0) months, 23 patients died. Regardless of whether the NLR acted as a continuous variable with a hazard ratio of 1.408 (95% confidence interval: 1.124-1.763) or a categorical variable (NLR ≤4.3 vs NLR >4.3) with a hazard ratio of 3.100 (95% confidence interval: 1.299-7.402), an elevated NLR was significantly associated with all-cause mortality in different models. A greater NLR at baseline was remarkably associated with a higher all-cause mortality in hospitalized patients with CKD-related PH.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Biomarker for Clinical Response After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is a complex disease that affects various target organs, making it difficult to assess response and determine remission or relapse. A baseline Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) >2.95 is associated with severe progressive skin and lung disease and decreased 5-year survival in systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, it is unknown whether NLR changes in response to treatment. To retrospectively evaluate NLR changes as a biomarker for treatment response in SSc. Progressive diffuse SSc patients who were treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT group), with combination therapy of rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil (combination group) or CAR-T cell therapy (CAR-T group) were recruited, along with healthy controls (HC group). NLR, modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and forced vital capacity (FVC)% predicted were repeatedly assessed over 2 years. Fifteen patients were recruited in the AHSCT group, 15 in the combination group, and six patients in the CAR-T group. Baseline mean NLR was high (>2.95) in AHSCT, combination groups, and CAR-T compared with HC. All treatment arms showed a statistically significant decrease in mRSS values and an increase in FVC% at each time point up to 12 months. In a linear mixed model, NLR significantly decreased up to 24 months only in the AHSCT group. NLR correlated with mRSS and FVC exclusively in the AHSCT group. NLR increased above 3 in two patients who experienced a relapse after AHSCT. NLR is a simple biomarker that correlated with outcome measures in SSc following AHSCT, but not with conventional therapy or CAR-T therapy. It is suggested that a decrease in NLR following AHSCT may indicate remission, whereas an increase may be associated with exacerbation. Further research is needed to validate these novel findings.

Association Between the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and in-Stent Neoatherosclerosis and Plaque Vulnerability: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between in-stent neoatherosclerosis (ISNA) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. We divided 216 patients into 3 groups based on the NLR tertile. We performed a comparative analysis of baseline, angiographic, and features of optical coherence tomography (OCT) between the NLR groups and performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the association of the NLR with ISNA and in-stent thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA). Patients in the third tertile NLR group had a higher incidence of ISNA and in-stent TCFA compared with those in the first tertile. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for ISNA and TCFA were 2.673 (1.257-5.684; P = 0.038) and 4.272 (1.740-10.488; P = 0.004), respectively, for patients in the highest tertile compared with those in the lowest tertile. Our study showed that an increased NLR was associated with ISNA and in-stent plaque fragility in patients with ISR following DES implantation.

Association between inflammation-related indicators and vertebral fracture in older adults in the United States: A cross-sectional study based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014.

This study was to examine the association between inflammation-related indexes SII (systemic immune-inflammation index), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), PPN (product of platelet count and neutrophil count), and PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), and the occurrence of vertebral fractures in older Americans. Patients ⩾60 years of age from the 2013-2014 NHANES database were selected for this study. Restricted cubic spline models and weighted logistic regression models were used to assess the association between inflammation-related indexes and the occurrence of vertebral fractures in older Americans. The predictive value of the inflammation-related indexes on the occurrence of vertebral fractures was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). To examine the robustness of the main findings, a sensitivity analysis was conducted. A total of 1281 patients were included in the analysis, of whole 120 suffered vertebral fractures. Fully adjusted logistic regression showed a significant linear relationship between NLR and the occurrence of vertebral fracture in older Americans (p < .05), but no relationship was found between SII, PLR, and the occurrence of vertebral fracture in older Americans. Meanwhile, NLR was slightly better than other indicators in predicting vertebral fracture. This study found that NLR, as a novel inflammatory marker, can predict the risk of vertebral fracture in older Americans, which is of clinical significance for the prevention and treatment of vertebral fracture in older adults.

Comparison of the Predictive and Prognostic Capacities of Neutrophil, Lymphocyte and Platelet Counts and Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in Triple-negative Breast Cancer: Preliminary Results of the PERCEPTION Study.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most heterogeneous breast cancer subtype, posing numerous challenges in clinical decision-making. Biomarkers are essential to personalize management of TNBC patients. While tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are validated prognostic biomarkers, the requirement for tumor biopsy limits their routine use. Therefore, more accessible and reliable quantitative biomarkers are needed. Given the significant role of systemic inflammatory response in tumor onset and progression, assessing inflammatory cells via liquid biopsies emerges as a promising alternative. The PERCEPTION study, conducted at Centre Jean Perrin in France, aims to determine the correlation between TILs and peripheral blood components at diagnosis. An interim analysis was conducted after enrolling 50% of the estimated population, to evaluate study feasibility and preliminary correlations between blood cell counts and TILs. Sixty-one patients were enrolled over 4.5 years, demonstrating a good inclusion rate with minimal missing data. Preliminary results for 36 analyzable patients showed no correlation between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and TILs (rs=-0.19, 95%CI=-0.49-0.16, p=0.3). However, a moderate, positive, statistically significant correlation was found between NLR and the CD8/FoxP3 TILs ratio (rs=0.36, 95%CI=0.03-0.64, p=0.043). The probabilistic index of 0.7 (p=0.06) between NLR-high and NLR-low groups for this ratio supports the correlation. The interim analysis of the PERCEPTION study confirms the feasibility of correlating blood cell counts with TILs in TNBC. Although no significant correlation was observed between NLR and TILs, the moderate positive correlation between the CD8/FoxP3 ratio and TILs suggests a potential link between systemic inflammation and local immune response. These findings underscore the potential of blood-based markers as non-invasive surrogates for TILs, encouraging further research to enhance prognosis and guide treatment strategies in TNBC.

Addition of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to Pre-DAA FIB-4 does not increase prediction value for de novo liver complications in hepatitis C

Background and aimsDirect-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) achieve high sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C patients; yet a proportion of patients still experience de novo liver complications after SVR. Identification of risk factors is clinically important. FIB-4 index is a useful noninvasive tool to assess fibrosis, while neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker for systemic inflammation. Our study aimed to investigate whether the addition of NLR can increase the prediction power of pre-DAA FIB-4 for de novo liver complications after SVR. MethodsWe recruited patients via The Taiwan HCV Registry (TACR) and National Health Insurance Registry Database. The inclusion criteria were patients who achieved SVR12 after DAA and were followed for at least 24 months after SVR12. Liver complications included ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and HCC. ResultsTotally 7657 patients were recruited from 2013 to 2018. Among them, 3674 patients (48.0%) had a FIB-4 value > 3.25 and 491 patients (6.4%) had a NLR >4 before DAA. After two-year of follow-up after SVR 12, 214 patients (2.8%) developed de novo liver complications. Factors associated with liver complications included male gender, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and pre-DAA FIB-4 >3.25 in multivariate analyses. Addition of NLR slightly did not increase the power of predicting liver complications. ConclusionsThe overall incidence of de novo liver complications after SVR is low during short-term follow-up. Elevated pre-DAA FIB-4 is associated with de novo liver complications after SVR, whereas the addition of pre-DAA NLR does not increase the prediction power.