European Journal of Rheumatology
Original Article

Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio can be a valuable marker in defining disease activity in patients who have started anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs for ankylosing spondylitis

1.

Department of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Uludağ, Bursa, Turkey

2.

Department of Rheumatology, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey

3.

Department of Internal Medicine, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey

Eur J Rheumatol 2014; 1: 101-105
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheumatol.2014.034
Read: 2532 Downloads: 1211 Published: 03 September 2019

Abstract

Objective: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a valuable and reliable method for follow-up of systemic inflammatory disease. We herein aimed to evaluate the role of NLR in the clinical follow-up of inflammation and also to compare its relationship with other measures, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI).

 

Material and Methods: A total of 35 active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 38 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patient group was enrolled for treatment with one anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drug. Total blood count, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI score were obtained before and 3 months following the treatment. NLR was found with a mathematical calculation of the ratio of neutrophils with lymphocytes.

 

Results: The mean NLR value of the control group and patients was 1.90±0.89 and 2.67±1.17, respectively (p<0.05). After a 3-month course of treatment, the patient group had a mean NLR value of 1.8±0.7, which was significantly lower than pretreatment values (p<0.001). The post-treatment mean ESR, CRP, and BASDAI scores were significantly lower than mean baseline scores (p<0.001, p=0.007, p<0.001, respectively). Also, NLR was found to be correlated with BASDAI, ESR, and CRP (r=0.388, p<0.001; r=0.455, p<0.0001; and r=0.3389, p<0.005, respectively).

 

Conclusion: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio could be a reliable and easily accessible method for follow-up of patients with AS.

 

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EISSN 2148-4279