Evaluation of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, and mean platelet volume as inflammatory markers in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Aim: The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV) have recently been used as indicators of a systemic inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations of the NLR, PLR, MLR, and MPV with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: The study group consisting of 82 children diagnosed with ADHD was compared with a healthy control (HC) group of 70 age-, sex-, and body-mass-index-matched subjects. The NLR, PLR, MLR, and MPV were measured according to the complete blood count.

Results: The NLR, PLR, MLR, MPV, and neutrophil count of the ADHD group were significantly higher than those of the HC group. The lymphocyte counts of the patients were significantly lower than those of the HC group.

Conclusion: Inflammation might play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD. The NLR, PLR, MLR, and MPV may be potential inflammation markers for ADHD in children.

Keywords: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; mean platelet volume; monocyte/lymphocyte ratio; neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio; platelet/lymphocyte ratio.