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Review
. 2022 Mar 26;23(7):3636.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23073636.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio: An Emerging Marker of the Relationships between the Immune System and Diseases

Agata Buonacera  1 , Benedetta Stancanelli  2 , Michele Colaci  3 , Lorenzo Malatino  3
Affiliations
Review

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio: An Emerging Marker of the Relationships between the Immune System and Diseases

Agata Buonacera et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Over the last 10 years, the evaluation of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an emerging marker of diseases has become a compelling field of bio-medical research. Although a precise and unique cut-off value has not been yet found, its role as a flag of immune system homeostasis is well established. NLR has a well-known prognostic value and independently correlates with mortality in the general population and in several specific subsets of disease (sepsis, pneumonia, COVID-19, cancer, etc.). Moreover, NLR was recently considered as part of the decision-making processes concerning the admission/recovery of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. This review aims to provide an overview of the main use of this biomarker, focusing on the pathophysiology and the molecular basis underlying its central role as a reliable mirror of inflammatory status and adaptive immunity.

Keywords: coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19); intensive care unit (ICU); marker; mortality; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); prognosis; sepsis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Reported NLR cut-off values and diseases. IMV, invasive mechanical ventilation; CHD, coronary heart disease; UC, urothelial cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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