Optimal Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio Cutoff Research Articles

The Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Near-Term Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy: A Propensity Score Matching Cohort Study.

Aims/Background To investigate the predictive value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for estimating the near-term efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods In this retrospective study, data were collected from patients with locally advanced HCC treated with HAIC between January 2018 and June 2022. Patients were categorized based on their pretreatment NLRs and analyzed using propensity score matching (PSM). The primary endpoints in this study were objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety. Results The optimal pretreatment NLR cutoff was 2.90 using the X-tile software (version 3.6.1; Yale Corp., New Haven, CT, USA), and 104 patients were included. These patients were divided into a high-NLR subgroup (>2.9; n = 44) and a low-NLR subgroup (≤2.9; n = 60). 43 matched pairs were analyzed following PSM. PFS (6.7 months vs. 3.8 months, p = 0.007) and ORR (69.8% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in patients with a low pretreatment NLR than in patients with a high pretreatment NLR. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that a high pretreatment NLR was an independent negative prognostic factor for ORR (hazard ratio [HR], 3.464; 95% CI, 1.383-8.678; p = 0.008) and PFS (HR, 1.634; 95% CI, 1.026-2.600; p = 0.038). No significant differences in the incidence of adverse events were observed between the groups. Conclusion Pretreatment NLR is a readily obtainable and effective biomarker for predicting the near-term efficacy of HAIC in patients with locally advanced HCC.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Patients Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy for Posterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion

To investigate the potential of composite inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in predicting outcomes in patients with posterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We included patients who underwent MT for posterior circulation large vessel occlusion between February 2016 and December 2021. We then assessed composite inflammatory markers on day 1 post-MT. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months (favorable score: 0-3). The primary safety measure was 3-month mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined each marker's predictive values and optimal cutoff values. Multivariable regression analysis assessed the relationship between markers and outcomes. We included a total of 137 patients (median age: 71 years, 26% female, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score: 23). NLR demonstrated the best predictive value for the prognosis of patients with posterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent MT. ROC analysis identified an optimal NLR cutoff of 12.5 (area under curve [AUC]: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.652-0.830) for favorable outcomes and 14.1 (AUC: 0.764, 95% CI: 0.662-0.865) for predicting death. Multivariate analysis determined an NLR <12.5 as an independent predictor of favorable post-MT outcomes (odds ratio [OR]: 10.43, 95% CI: 3.85-28.29, P<0.001), and NLR <14.1 as an independent predictor of post-MT survival (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25, P<0.001). Among the assessed markers, NLR emerged as the strongest predictor of clinical outcomes following MT for posterior circulation large vessel occlusion.

Stability of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Relationship with Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

More studies have focused on the clinical value of the measurement of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). This study aims to assess the stability of NLR in hospitalized AECOPD patients and its relationship with clinical prognosis. This retrospective observational study recruited patients hospitalized with AECOPD from January 2020 to December 2023. Using receiver operating characteristic curves, we determined the optimal NLR cutoff, categorizing NLR stability into four groups: persistent high (NLR ≥ 3.8), increased (NLR < 3.8 at admission but ≥ 3.8 at discharge), decreased (NLR ≥ 3.8 at admission but < 3.8 at discharge), and persistent low (NLR < 3.8). Adverse hospital outcomes included hospital mortality, transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and length of hospital stay (LOS) ≥ 14 days. The associations between NLR stability and these outcomes were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression and Cox hazard analysis. Among 841 patients hospitalized for AECOPD, the mean age was 72.1±9.5 years, with 644 males (76.6%) and 197 females (23.4%). The proportions and distribution for groups: persistent high, decreased, increased, and persistent low groups were 109 (12.9%), 175 (20.8%), 216 (25.7%), and 341 (40.5%), respectively. The persistent high group had the worst outcomes, including higher IMV use, ICU transfer, LOS > 14 days, and hospital cost, compared to the persistent low group. Compared to the persistent high group, the persistent low group (HR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.10-0.24) and the decreased group (HR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22-0.73) are statistically significant for the risk of death, while the increased group (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.37-1.04) does not show a statistically significant difference. AECOPD patients who have persistent low NLR group face a low risk of adverse hospital outcomes and mortality after 6 months after discharge. The stability of NLR may serve as a novel biomarker for identifying AECOPD patients at increased risk of poor hospital outcomes.

The association of the perioperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with wound healing in patients with Wagner grade 3 and 4 diabetic foot ulcers after tibial cortex transverse transport surgery: a prospective observational cohort study.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are severe complications of diabetes, involving multiple etiological factors including neuropathy, vascular insufficiency, and impaired wound healing. The global burden of DFUs is substantial, with significant morbidity and high management costs. Recent advancements have introduced the tibial cortex transverse transport (TTT) technique, which has shown promising results in the management of severe DFUs by promoting angiogenesis and immunomodulation. This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with Wagner grade 3 and 4 DFUs, treated using the TTT technique from May 2022 to September 2023 at MianYang Central Hospital. The study assessed the influence of TTT on the perioperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an established biomarker of systemic inflammation, and its correlation with wound healing outcomes. A total of 82 patients were enrolled, with 66 completing the study. The survival analysis revealed that patients with a lower preoperative NLR experienced significantly faster wound healing compared with a high NLR (log rank test P< 0.05; hazard ratio (HR) = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.83). The optimal NLR cutoff values (4.25) were established to predict wound healing times for DFUs. The median NLR was significantly different before TTT surgery, 3 days after TTT surgery, and 1 month after TTT surgery (P<0.05). The TTT technique significantly influences the perioperative NLR and is associated with improved wound healing in DFU patients. The perioperative NLR serves as an effective predictive biomarker for wound healing outcomes, highlighting the significance of interventions targeting NLR values in perioperative management strategies and postoperative monitoring protocols for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in clinical practice.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and five-year mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BackgroundPrevious studies linked neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with short-term mortality after acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but its relationship with long-term mortality remains unclear. This study investigates the association between NLR and five-year mortality in AIS patients. MethodWe analyzed 416 AIS patients from April 2012 to January 2016 at Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital. Admission NLR was divided into quartiles: Q1 (<2.00), Q2 (2.00–3.05), Q3 (3.06–5.46), and Q4 (≥5.46). We assessed 5-year all-cause and vascular mortality using Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. ResultsOver five years, 134 (32.2 %) all-cause deaths and 114 (27.4 %) vascular deaths occurred. Elevated NLR was significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause and vascular mortality. Multivariate Cox analysis identified stroke history (HR: 1.57, 95 % CI 1.08–2.30), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (HR: 1.09, 95 % CI 1.05–1.12), and NLR (HR: 1.09, 95 % CI 1.05–1.12) as independent risk factors for all-cause mortality. These factors also predicted 5-year vascular mortality: stroke history (HR: 1.65, 95 % CI 1.10–2.49), NIHSS score (HR: 1.10, 95 % CI 1.06–1.13), and NLR (HR: 1.08, 95 % CI 1.05–1.10). NLR quartiles were significantly linked to both outcomes: all-cause mortality HRs were Q2 (1.87, 95 % CI 1.00–3.51), Q3 (2.40, 95 % CI 1.31–4.39), Q4 (2.77, 95 % CI 1.47–5.24), P for trend = 0.001; vascular mortality HRs were Q2 (1.76, 95 % CI 0.88–3.55), Q3 (2.34, 95 % CI 1.14–4.40), Q4 (2.57, 95 % CI 1.28–5.16), P for trend = 0.002. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly higher mortality rates in higher NLR quartiles (log-rank p < 0.001). ROC analysis identified optimal NLR cutoff values of 3.42 for predicting 5-year all-cause mortality (AUC 0.689) and 3.51 for vascular-cause mortality (AUC 0.700), with moderate sensitivity and specificity. ConclusionsHigher NLR at admission was linked with five-year all-cause mortality and mortality attributed explicitly to vascular causes in AIS patients.

Pre-stereotactic radiosurgery neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts post-stereotactic radiosurgery survival of patients with brain metastases concurrently treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown clinical benefit for a wide range of cancer types. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) reportedly correlates with survival time or progression-free survival in patients treated with ICIs. However, NLR has not yet been assessed in patients with brain metastases (BMs) receiving stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) combined with concurrent ICIs. The authors investigated the predictive impact of NLR on the survival data of patients with BMs who received SRS with concurrent ICIs. The clinical records of patients who had undergone SRS with concurrent ICIs for BMs between January 2015 and August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. NLR was calculated using the data obtained from the last examination prior to SRS. The optimal NLR cutoff value was identified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for time-to-event data (overall survival [OS] ≤ 18 months). OS and intracranial disease progression-free survival (IC-PFS) rates were compared between the two NLR groups. Of the 185 eligible patients included, 132 were male. The median (IQR) patient age was 69 (61-75) years. The primary cancers were lung, genitourinary, skin, breast, gastrointestinal, and others in 132, 23, 22, 2, 2, and 4 patients, respectively. The post-SRS median OS and IC-PFS times for the entire cohort were 18.4 (95% CI 14.0-23.1) months and 9.2 (95% CI 6.9-10.8) months, respectively. ROC curve analysis identified the optimal NLR cutoff value for 18-month OS to be 5.0 (area under the curve 0.64, Youden index 0.31). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with high NLR (> 5) had a significantly shorter OS (median survival time 10.9 months for 48 patients vs 22.2 months for 137 patients, HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.0, p < 0.001). Similarly, a significant difference in median IC-PFS was noted: 4.8 months with high NLR versus 10.7 months with low NLR (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.5, p = 0.003). The authors found elevated pre-SRS NLR (> 5) to be associated with shorter OS and IC-PFS after SRS with concurrent ICIs for BMs. NLR is a simple, cost-effective, and widely accessible biomarker, which can thus be used for managing patients with BMs receiving SRS concurrently with ICIs. Further investigation in other large datasets is, however, required to validate these findings.

Predictive biomarkers for pathological complete response in early-stage triple negative breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

598 Background: Identifying predictive biomarkers for early-stage triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is essential for tailoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) strategies effectively. Methods: We investigated potential clinical and pathological biomarkers in early-stage TNBC patients who underwent NACT regimens with anthracyclines and taxanes at a single cancer center. Medical records were scrutinized for clinical and laboratory data, with categorical variables analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. Logistic regression assessed factors associated with pathological complete response (pCR). Sensitivity and specificity of the biomarkers were explored using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses. Results: Among 110 TNBC patients receiving anthracycline- and taxane-based NACT with complete pathology data, the median age was 48 years, 60% had stage III tumors, and 30.9% achieved pCR. Stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) &gt; 10% were observed in 54.5%, 32.7% had TILs ≥30%, and 90.9% had Ki67 ≥ 50%. Univariate analysis showed no association between pCR and TILs &gt;10% (p=0.5), Ki67 ≥ 50% (p=0.4), anatomic stage (p=0.06), eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.3), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.08), age (p=0.5), grade (p=0.6), or HER2 status (p=0.6). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly associated with pCR in both univariate (OR 3.92; 95% CI 1.67 - 9.57; p=0.002) and multivariable analyses (Table). No association was observed between NLR ≤ 1.76 and TILs, anatomic stage, or Ki67. The optimal NLR cutoff using ROC curve was 1.76, yielding 60.6% sensitivity and 71.8% specificity for pCR. NLR cutoffs of ≤ 1.43 had specificities higher than 85%. Although TILs value was not associated with pCR in the regression model, high TILs value (≥50%) yielded a specificity of 89.4% for pCR. Conclusions: NLR emerged as a significant and independent predictor of pCR in early-stage TNBC. Prospective studies should explore this readily available biomarker in assessing neoadjuvant strategy responses. Moreover, high specificities for pCR were observed with NLR ≤ 1.43 and TILs ≥ 50%, representing cutoff values that could be explored for treatment de-escalation. [Table: see text]

The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Acute Exacerbations Among Patients With COPD in Uganda.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inexpensive biomarker that potentially predicts acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs). We evaluated the association of baseline NLR and respiratory hospitalization risk within one year among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in Uganda, a low- and middle-income country. A total of 312 COPD patients were followed for one year. Clinical characteristics and exacerbation rates were collected. Poisson regression with robust variance estimators was used to measure the association between NLR and hospital admissions due to COPD exacerbations. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve were used to assess the ability of NLR to predict AECOPDs. The median (Q 1, Q 3) age was 64 years (53, 71). Females comprised 50.96% (n=159) of the cohort, and 71.2% (n=222) of participants had moderate or severe COPD. A total of 9.9% (n=31) of participants experienced a COPD exacerbation during the period of follow-up. At baseline, the median (Q 1, Q 3) NLR ratio among participants who experienced an exacerbation was 1.46 (0.92, 2.33) compared to 1.03 (0.72,1.42) among those who did not experience one during the follow-up period (p=0.002). Using Youden and Liu's methods, the optimal NLR cutoff for predicting COPD exacerbation was 1.17. This cutoff resulted in a ROC curve area of 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.56, 0.73). The NLR could be used as a risk predictor, in low- and middle-income countries, for hospital admissions due to COPD exacerbations. A cutoff of 1.17 was an independent predictor of hospitalization due to acute exacerbations of COPD within one year.

Pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers predict survival in endometrial cancer: A Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group 2043 exploratory data analysis

ObjectiveWe investigated whether pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers are associated with survival outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer (EC). MethodsData from the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group 2043 were analyzed. Patients who did not receive chemotherapy or were lost to follow-up were excluded. Associations of pretreatment systemic inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. The optimal NLR, PLR, and HALP score cutoff values for PFS and OS were determined. Survival estimates were calculated and compared using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test. ResultsWe included 712 patients (median age: 55 [range, 28–74] years; body mass index [BMI]: 21.1 [15.2–38.6] kg/m2). For PFS, optimal NLR, PLR, and HALP score cutoff values were 1.48, 0.017, and 35.52, respectively, and for OS, the values were 1.88, 0.026, and 19.87, respectively. At optimal PFS-related cutoff values, NLR was associated with BMI; PLR with age, BMI, and clinical stage; and HALP score with BMI, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis. At optimal OS-related cutoff values, NLR was associated with BMI, PLR, and BMI; the HALP score was associated with age and BMI. The HALP score was a prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.025), while PLR and HALP scores were prognostic factors for OS (both p = 0.028). ConclusionsPretreatment systemic inflammatory markers are associated with survival outcomes in patients with EC, with the HALP score being a prognostic factor for PFS and OS.

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among U.S. adults with rheumatoid arthritis: results from NHANES 1999-2020.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is recognized as a biomarker for systemic inflammation and immune activation. However, its connection with the mortality risk in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between NLR and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in U.S. adults with RA. Data were gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles spanning 1999 to March 2020. We included adults aged ≥20 years. The NLR was computed by dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count from complete blood counts. The maximally selected rank statistics method helped identify the optimal NLR cutoff value associated with significant survival outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to investigate the relationship between the NLR and the all-cause and cardiovascular mortality of RA. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were utilized to detect whether there were linear or non-linear relationships between NLR and mortality. In this study, 2002 adults with RA were included, with 339 having a higher NLR (≥3.28) and 1663 having a lower NLR (<3.28). During a median follow-up of 84 months, 79 RA individuals died. Participants with higher NLR had a 2-fold increased risk of all-cause (HR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.53-2.66) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.34-4.57) versus lower NLR, after adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the survival rate for the higher NLR group was significantly lower than the lower NLR group, in terms of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (both P<0.0001). The RCS curve demonstrated a positive linear association between the NLR and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. A higher NLR was independently predictive of elevated long-term mortality risk in U.S. adults with RA. The NLR may serve as an inexpensive, widely available prognostic marker in RA.

A clinical utility of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as an independent predictor of systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease and is associated with considerable morbidity. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been chosen as a potential marker of inflammation in SLE. Objective: To evaluate the role of NLR as an independent predictor of SLE activity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2016 to June 2017. In this study, 30 SLE patients, aged 18 to 55 years, were considered as the study group and 30 aged matched healthy subjects were considered as control group. SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score was used to assess disease activity.NLR and ESR was estimated. Independent samples t-test, Chi Square test, Pearson’s correlation co-efficient (r) test, Regression analysis and ROC curve analysis were performed as applicable. 95% confident interval was calculated and p value &lt;0.05 was accepted as level of significance. Results: In this study, NLR was significantly (p=0.003) higher in SLE patients than control. SLEDAI score was 10 (1-18) and majority (19; 63.33%) of the SLE patients had SLEDAI score &gt;9 (active disease). NLR was significantly (p=0.001) increased more in active SLE than inactive SLE and showed a significant association among NLR and active disease (OR; 6.56, 95% CI; 1.26 to 34.20, p=0.001). NLR was positively correlated with SLEDAI score and ESR in patients with SLE. The optimal NLR cutoff value of 2.2 had 95% sensitivity and73% specificity {AUC = 0.957, 95% CI, 0.892–1.000, p = &lt;0.001}. Conclusion: This study concludes that NLR is significantly increased in SLE patients and can be served as an independent predictor of SLE activity. Bangladesh J Medicine 2023; 34(2): 137-142

Combined use of CRP with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in differentiating between infectious and noninfectious inflammation in hemodialysis patients

We tested whether CRP combined with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) optimizes the prediction of infectious inflammation in hemodialysis patients. We conducted a retrospective study of 774 (mean age 71.1 ± 12.8 years, 35% women) hemodialysis patients from our institution, hospitalized between 2007 and 2021 for various reasons, with CRP levels available at admission. Infection was defined according to the International Sepsis Definition Conference criteria. An algorithm for the optimal CRP and NLR cutoff points for predicting infection was developed based on a decision tree analysis in the training cohort (n = 620) and then tested in the validation cohort (n = 154). A CRP level above 40 mg/L (obtained as the cutoff point in predicting infections in the training group, using ROC curve analysis) predicted an infection diagnosis with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 76% with an odds ratio (OR) of 9.37 (95% CI: 5.36–16.39), according to a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Whereas, CRP levels above 23 mg/L together with an NLR above 9.7 predicted an infection diagnosis with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 84% with an OR of 25.59 (95% CI: 9.73–67.31). All these results were reproduced in the validation set. Combined use of CRP with NLR may lower the CRP cutoff point in distinguishing between infectious and noninfectious inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as a Poor Predictive Biomarker for Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Prospective Study.

The literature is inconsistent for the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) obtained before neoadjuvant therapy (pre-NLR) in predicting pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (neoCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In the present cohort study, we explored the predictive role of pre-NLR in this setting. We prospectively included patients with LARC who were candidates for neoCRT at the Shohada-e-Hafte Tir Hospital (Tehran, Iran) between Mar 2018 and Feb 2020. The pre-NLR was obtained through a peripheral blood smear before CRT. We used the AJCC system for evaluating tumor regression grade (TRG). The TRGs were categorized into: response-group 1 (TRG 0-1 vs. 2-3), response-group 2 (TRG 0 vs. 1-3), and response-group 3 (TRG 0-2 vs. 3). We applied receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to assess the predictive value of pre-NLR. Of the 86 screened patients with rectal cancer, 30 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. In total, 63.3% were responsive, and 23.3% had complete pathologic response. Pre-NLR could not predict the pathologic response in response-group 1 (area under the ROC curve [AUC]: 0.45, 95%CI 0.23-0.66) and response-group 2 (AUC: 0.36, 95%CI 0.13-0.59). Nevertheless, it had a poor predictive value in response-group 3 (AUC: 0.55, CI%95 0.33-0.75) with an optimal NLR cutoff value of 2.94. Pre-NLR could not predict the pathological response to neoCRT in our cohort of patients with LARC.

The association between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and in-hospital mortality among sepsis patients: A prospective study.

The Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was shown to be associated with disease severity, poor prognosis and increased mortality in sepsis. However, the association between NLR and sepsis prognosis remains controversial.Our study aims to prospectively examine the prognostic ability of NLR in predicting in-hospital mortality among sepsis patients and determine the optimal cutoff of NLR that can most accurately predict in-hospital mortality in sepsis patients. This study was a prospective cohort study that included adult sepsis patients that presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care center between September 2018 and February 2021.Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio that predicts in-hospital mortality. Patients were divided into 2 groups: above and below the optimal cutoff. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to assess the magnitude of the association between NLR and in-hospital mortality.A total of 865 patients were included in the study. The optimal cutoff for the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio that predicts in-hospital mortality was found to be 14.20 with a sensitivity of 44.8% and a specificity of 65.3% (with PPV = 0.27 and NPV = 0.80). The area under the curve for the ratio was 0.552 with a 95% confidence intervals = [0.504–0.599] with a P value = .03. Patients that have a NLR above the cutoff were less likely to survive with time compared to patients below the cutoff based on the Kaplan–Meier curves. In the stepwise logistic regression, the optimal neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio cutoff was not associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratios = 1.451, 95% confidence intervals = [0.927–2.270], P = .103).In conclusion the optimal cutoff of the NLR that predicts in-hospital mortality among sepsis patients was 14.20. There was no association between the NLR and in-hospital mortality in sepsis patients after adjusting for confounders. Further studies with a larger sample size should be done to determine the optimal NLR cutoff and its prognostic role in septic patients (in-hospital mortality and other clinically significant outcomes).

Association Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Oncotype Dx Recurrence Score in Early-Stage Hormonal Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Node-Negative Breast Cancer.

PurposeThe correlation between the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Oncotype DX® (ODX) recurrence score (RS) has not yet been established. We aimed to investigate the association between NLR and ODX RS in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) early-stage breast cancer (BC).Patients and MethodsThis retrospective study included consecutive patients with HR+/HER2−, node-negative primary BC who underwent surgical tumor resection from 2011 to 2019. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to obtain an optimal NLR cutoff value. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate associations between various parameters and ODX RS. Furthermore, the factors significantly associated with the ODX RS in multivariable analysis were incorporated in a separate model and estimated using logistic regression.ResultsA total of 160 patients were enrolled. The optimal preoperative NLR cutoff was 2.15. Multivariable analysis revealed that NLR and tumor grade (G1/G2 vs G3) were independent predictive factors of high RS cutoff (≥26). Moreover, including the two variables yielded a stronger association; patients with low NLR and low-grade tumors were unlikely to have high RS (≥26; odds ratio [OR] = 0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.006–0.154; p < 0.001). Conversely, the presence of any of the following factors made patients unlikely to have low RS (<16; OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16–0.73; p = 0.006): high NLR, high grade, or high Ki-67 levels (>20).ConclusionNLR is a promising independent predictor of RS. Furthermore, in addition to tumor grade and Ki-67 level, they together are also a potential indicator of high and low RS. However, further studies are required to validate this hypothesis.

283 Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of lymph node metastasis in extramammary Paget disease: A retrospective study

To prevent further development of extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD), it is critical to detect lymph node metastasis at an early stage. Therefore, biomarkers that predict the risk of lymph node metastasis are required. In the present retrospective study, we evaluated the potential of neutrophil- to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood samples as a biomarker for the risk of lymph node metastasis in EMPD. This study involved 137 EMPD patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at our hospital from March 2003 to March 2020. The χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression analysis and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the correlations between NLR and clinical features/laboratory findings and between SLNB positivity and clinical features/ laboratory findings. Receiver-operator curves were constructed using the DeLong model to define the optimal NLR cutoff value. The NLR cutoff value was defined as 3.0. The high NLR group had 30 patients whose NLRs exceeded 3 (NLR > 3), and 23% of the patients showed sentinel lymph node metastasis (SLNM). The low NLR group had 107 patients whose NLRs were no more than 3 (NLR ≤ 3), and 8% of the patients had SLNM. The rate of SLNM was significantly higher in the high NLR group than in the low NLR group (χ2 test; P = .0245). The odds ratio of SLNM for patients with NLR greater than 3 was 3.311 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.117 to 9.804; P = .0380) compared with patients with NLR of 3 or less. Then, we classified the patients into 2 groups by SLNB results. Sixteen of the 137 patients (11.7%) showed SLNM. In the logistic regression analysis of 5 variables in 137 patients (Table II) and six variables including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 55 patients for SLNB positivity, only NLR was found to be significantly associated with SLNB positivity. Here we reported NLR might be a significant predictor for LNM in EMPD patients, providing us with a clue for determining which of them could benefit from SLNB.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with malnutrition risk estimated by the Royal Free Hospital-Nutritional Prioritizing Tool in hospitalized cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis is characterized by immune dysfunction, contributing to malnutrition. We previously revealed neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an indicator of disordered immune system. Herein we aimed to (1) determine the optimal NLR cutoff that best predicts malnutrition risk and (2) clarify the association between NLR and nutrition status. A total of 135 hospitalized patients with cirrhosis were included. Immune dysfunction was evaluated by levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), NLR, and other parameters. Malnutrition was screened by a risk score referring to the Royal Free Hospital-Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was implemented to determine the best NLR cutoff that predicts malnutrition risk. Correlation between NLR and indicators of hepatic and physical function (handgrip strength) were also examined. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between NLR and malnutrition risk. ROC curve revealed that the optimum cutoff to predict malnutrition risk was NLR > 4.2, with a sensitivity of 47.2%, specificity of 81.0%, negative predictive value of 58.0%, and positive predictive value of 74.5%, respectively. Patients with NLR > 4.2 exhibited a higher RFH-NPT score, serum platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and CRP. A positive correlation was found between NLR values and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (r = 0.22; P = .010), model for end-stage liver disease (r = 0.36; P < .001), and RFH-NPT scores (r = 0.31; P < .001). NLR was a risk factor for malnutrition independently of alcoholic liver disease and presence of ascites. Immune dysfunction measured by NLR was associated with malnutrition risk estimated by RFH-NPT in cirrhosis.

Prognostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Death Risk in Patients with Severe Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

IntroductionSevere hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) may lead to serious complications, which cause child mortality during outbreaks. The aim of this study was to determine whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can predict death risk in severe HFMD.MethodsMedical records for 664 severe HFMD patients were retrospectively examined, and NLR was calculated from blood counts. Youden’s index was calculated to determine the optimal NLR cutoff. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine death risk factors associated with severe HFMD.ResultsAn NLR cutoff value of 2.01 and 2.50 respectively predicted mortality among all 664 severe HFMD and 137 critical HFMD. Among all 664 patients, the multivariate model identified the following as independently associated with death risk: high fever (OR 3.342, 95% CI 1.736–6.432), EV71 infection (OR 3.200, 95% CI 1.529–6.698), fasting glucose (OR 37.343, 95% CI 18.616–74.909), and NLR (>2.01) (OR 2.142, 95% CI 1.125–4.079). Among 137 critical HFMD, EV71 infection (OR 3.441, 95% CI 1.132–10.462), fasting glucose (OR 14.173, 95% CI 4.920–40.827), and NLR (>2.50) (OR 4.166, 95% CI 1.570–11.051) were associated with death risk.ConclusionIn conclusion, NLR (>2.01) in severe HFMD and NLR (>2.50) in critical HFMD patients may be associated with increased death risk.

A Multi-Institutional Validation of the Prognostic Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Study From The Latin American Group of Lymphoproliferative Disorders (GELL)

IntroductionWe aimed at investigating the prognostic role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in 2 independent cohorts of Latin American patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with chemoimmunotherapy. Patients and MethodsThe learning cohort was composed of 274 patients and the validation cohort of 323 patients, for a total of 597 patients. An optimal NLR cutoff ≥ 4 was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. ResultsIn multivariate models, NLR ≥ 4 was independently associated with lower odds for complete response to chemoimmunotherapy in the learning (odds ratio, 0.46; P = .006) and the validation cohort (odds ratio, 0.49; P = .01), and independently associated with worse survival in the learning (hazard ratio, 1.55; P = .04) and the validation cohort (hazard ratio, 1.80; P = .003). ConclusionsThe adverse prognostic value of NLR ≥ 4 was independent of the International Prognostic Index and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-International Prognostic Index score. Based on the results of this multi-institutional study, NLR ≥ 4 emerges as an adverse prognostic factor in Latin American patients with DLBCL treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Cohort retrospective study: the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as an independent predictor of outcomes at the presentation of the multi-trauma patient

BackgroundAlthough the association of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with mortality in trauma patients has recently been shown, there is a paucity of research on the association with other outcomes. Recent studies suggest that the NLR has a predictive value of mortality in trauma patients during various times of admission. This study aimed to determine the prognostic impact of NLR at the presentation in critically ill trauma patients.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of adult trauma patients between July 2017 and November 2017 in Tishreen Hospital. All patients who had arrived at the emergency department with multi-trauma injury within the age category (14–80 years) were included in this analysis. The prophetical capability of NLR on mortality was assessed by the receiver operative characteristics (ROC) curve. To identify the impact of the NLR on survival, a separate log-rank test was used. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to identify independent predictors of mortality.ResultsThroughout the time of the study, 566 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 98.8% were male, 75.8% sustained penetrating trauma, and median age [IQR25–IQR75] was 26 [23–32]. Ninety-seven patients (17.1%) had major trauma, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 15. Using the ROC curve analyses hospitalization day 1, optimal NLR cutoff values of 4.00 were calculated by maximizing the Youden index. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed an NLR greater than or equal to these cutoff values as a marker for increased in-hospital mortality (p = 0.020, log-rank test). The Cox regression model demonstrated significant collinearity among the predictive variables (all VIF results < 2). Only ISS > 15 has a significant statistical relation with elevated NLR on day 1 (p = 0.010).ConclusionsElevated NLR on day 1 has high predictive power for overall survival during the first 30 days after trauma, but it was not independent of other factors.