The association between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and inflammatory markers with the severity of aortic stenosis

Molecular Pathways of Vulnerable Carotid Plaques at Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Narrative Review

The concept of vulnerable carotid plaques is pivotal in understanding the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke secondary to large-artery atherosclerosis. In macroscopic evaluation, vulnerable plaques are characterized by one or more of the following features: microcalcification; neovascularization; lipid-rich necrotic cores (LRNCs); intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH); thin fibrous caps; plaque surface ulceration; huge dimensions, suggesting stenosis; and plaque rupture. Recognizing these macroscopic characteristics is crucial for estimating the risk of cerebrovascular events, also in the case of non-significant (less than 50%) stenosis. Inflammatory biomarkers, such as cytokines and adhesion molecules, lipid-related markers like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading extracellular matrix components are among the key molecules that are scrutinized for their associative roles in plaque instability. Through their quantification and evaluation, these biomarkers reveal intricate molecular cross-talk governing plaque inflammation, rupture potential, and thrombogenicity. The current evidence demonstrates that plaque vulnerability phenotypes are multiple and heterogeneous and are associated with many highly complex molecular pathways that determine the activation of an immune-mediated cascade that culminates in thromboinflammation. This narrative review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current knowledge on molecular biomarkers expressed by symptomatic carotid plaques. It explores the association of these biomarkers with the structural and compositional attributes that characterize vulnerable plaques.

Association of the Novel Inflammatory Marker Systemic Immune-Inflammation index and Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis

This study investigated whether the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is an independent predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis. TAVR patients (n = 130) were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those who developed CIN [CIN (+)] and those who did not [CIN (−)]. The SII was calculated as the ratio of the product of the total neutrophil count and the total platelet count to the lymphocyte count. CIN developed in 20 (15.3%) patients after TAVR. White blood cell count (7.66 ± 1.75 vs 6.78 ± 1.71 103/mm3 P = .038), neutrophil count (5.1 (3.9–6.7) vs 4.2 (3.5-5.1) 103/mm3 P = .024), neutrophillymphocyte ratio (4.20 (2.39–7.00) vs 2.75 (2.06-3.88), P = .010) and SII index (1069 (616–1514) vs 598 (426-955), P = .003) were at higher levels in patients with CIN. In addition, the SII index was an independent predictor for the development of CIN. The SII index, which can be easily calculated from a complete blood count, is an independent predictor of CIN in patients undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis.

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Moyamoya Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Inflammation has been proven to be one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease (MMD). Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are cheap and reliable biomarkers of inflammation. Nevertheless, evidence regarding the relationship among PLR and NLR in patients with MMD is limited. The focus of this subject was to explore the relationship between PLR and NLR in patients with newly diagnosed MMD.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including 261 patients with diagnosed MMD for the first time who were enrolled from our hospital, from 24 March 2013 to 24 December 2018. The clinical characteristics were collected for each patient. Univariate analysis, smooth curve fitting and multivariate piecewise linear regression were showed.

Results: The mean levels or median values (interquartile range) of PLR and NLR were 146.979 ± 51.203 and 2.241 (1.589–2.984), respectively. A significant positive correlation between PLR and NLR levels (P < 0.001) was showed by the univariate analysis. Furthermore, a non-linear relationship was detected between PLR and NLR by smooth curve fitting after adjusting for potential confounders. A multivariate piecewise linear regression model revealed a significant positive correlation between PLR and NLR when the PLR level was lower than 219.82 (β 0.012, 95% CI 0.005, 0.019; P = 0.001). PLR was also significantly positively associated with NLR when PLR concentrations were >219.82 (β 0.098, 95% CI 0.069, 0.128; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: There seemed to be a positive association between PLR and NLR in patients with MMD. This may help to further explain the role of inflammation in the occurrence and progress of MMD.

Is there a relationship between hematological inflammatory parameters and age-related macular degeneration?

Purpose

We aimed to analyze blood inflammation parameters in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

In this retrospective study, patients were divided into three groups: wet-type AMD (n = 60), dry-type AMD (n = 60), and healthy controls (n = 71). The laboratory and demographic data of the patients were analyzed. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were calculated manually.

Results

The mean NLR was 2.26 ± 1.42 in the dry-type AMD group, 3.90 ± 1.65 in the wet-type AMD group, and 1.84 ± 0.61 in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean MLR was 0.30 ± 0.20 in the dry-type AMD group, 0.47 ± 0.31 in the wet-type AMD group, and 0.28 ± 0.14 in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean PLR was 129.31 ± 79.82 in the dry-type AMD group, 156.67 ± 83.99 in the wet-type AMD group, and 135.59 ± 58.68 in the control group (p = 0.101). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for NLR and MLR was 0.920 and 0.717, respectively, for wet-type AMD. The sensitivity and specificity of NLR for wet-type AMD were 64% and 93%, respectively, whereas MLR was 63% and 75%, respectively.

Conclusion

Simple blood tests revealed that NLR and MLR were significantly higher in patients with wet-type AMD than in patients with dry-type AMD and healthy controls, which implies low-grade inflammation.

Platelet to lymphocyte ratio predicting 6-month primary patency of drug-coated balloon for femoropopliteal disease

Background

Inflammatory reaction is an essential factor in the occurrence, development and prognosis of femoropopliteal disease (FPD). The ratio of platelets to lymphocytes (PLR) is a new indicator reflecting platelet aggregation and burden of systemic inflammation. Our study is to explore the association between preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (pre-PLR) and 6-month primary patency (PP) after drug-coated balloon (DCB) in FPD.

Methods

There were 70 patients who underwent DCB for FPD contained in the study. According to 6-month PP, patients were divided into group A (PP ≥6 months, n = 54) and group B (PP < 6 months, n = 16). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential predictors for 6-month PP after DCB in FPD. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the cut-off value of pre-PLR to predict 6-month PP.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-PLR (OR: 1.008, 95% CI: 1.001–1.016, P = 0.031) and lesion length > 10 cm (OR: 4.305, 95% CI: 1.061–17.465, P = 0.041) were independently predictive for 6-month PP. The cutoff value of pre-PLR obtained from the ROC analysis was 127.35 to determine 6-month PP with the area of 0.839. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the cutoff value of pre-PLR. The 6-month PP in the group of pre-PLR < 127.35 was higher than that of pre-PLR ≥ 127.35 group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The present study indicated that an elevated pre-PLR was an effective additional indicator for predicting early PP in FPD after DCB.

Predictive Roles of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are emerging indirect blood markers to roughly reflect the inflammation level in our body while some pathological changes occurring in aortic valve tissue. Few recent studies demonstrated that NLR is related to calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). However, the extent of the relationship between them and the impact of CRP on CAVD are not clear. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic influence and surgical predictive effect of NLR and CRP on CAVD.A total of 278 consecutive patients with CAVD (123 patients with bicuspid aortic valve and others with tricuspid aortic valve) and 108 healthy individuals who were included in the control group were enrolled in the study. The NLR was calculated from the complete blood count, and the CRP was measured from peripheral blood samples. Echocardiography was used to evaluate the severity of aortic stenosis. Intraoperation/postoperation indicators were collected in 166 patients from the total consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) alone.Significantly higher NLR was measured in both the BAV group (1.96 ± 0.78 versus 0.97 ± 0.15, P < 0.001) and the TAV group (2.51 ± 2.03 versus 0.97 ± 0.15, P < 0.001) compared with the control group. Moreover, the NLR level was significantly higher (P < 0.001) and the CRP level was significantly lower (P = 0.007) of the TAV group than that of the BAV group; a significant positive correlation between the NLR and the maximum gradient of aortic valve was detected. Furthermore, there was a moderate correlation between the NLR and the postoperative mechanical ventilation time.Our results indicated that the NLR and CRP were novel and useful predictive factors in patients with CAVD, and these two potential factors have guiding significance for the prediction of different pathological typing (BAV or TAV). Higher NLR level will not extend the cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB); however, it will prolong the operation time and the postoperative mechanical ventilation time.

Correlation of neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratio with visual acuity and macular thickness in age-related macular degeneration

AIM

To investigate the place of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the diagnosis of and prognosis for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS

One hundred AMD patients and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from the venous blood, which is used for routine analysis, and these samples were subjected to complete blood count. NLR was defined as the neutrophil count divided by the number of lymphocytes, and PLR was defined as the platelet count divided by the number of lymphocytes.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups under consideration in terms of demographic features (P>0.05). The average NLR in the patient group was found to be significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The average PLR was significantly higher in the patient group as compared to the control group (P<0.05). As best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased, both NLR and PLR decreased (significant negative correlations at 49.8% and 63.0%, respectively), whereas as central macular thickness (CMT) increased, both NLR and PLR increased (significant positive correlations at 59.3% and 70.0%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

NLR and PLR levels are higher among neovascular AMD patients as compared to healthy control group. NLR and PLR levels were found to be inversely proportional to BCVA and directly proportional to CMT.