Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in inflammatory bowel disease - as a new predictor of disease severity

Abstract

Background: The aims of this study were to investigate the utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a simple and readily available predictor for clinical disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Sixty-six patients (22 CD, 44 UC) and 41 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and complete blood count (CBC) were measured. The neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were recorded and NLR was calculated. The patients with active or inactive UC and CD were classified according to the severity of the disease.

Result: The serum NLR values of active CD patients were significantly higher than those of inactive ones and controls (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). NLR values of active UC patients were significantly higher than those of inactive ones and controls (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively. The optimum NLR cut-off point for active CD and UC was 3.2 and 3.1.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that NLR in subjects with IBD is strongly associated with active disease and correlated with clinical and laboratory indices (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 31).

Keywords: disease severity; inflammatory bowel disease.; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; new predictor.