Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is considered as an independent and easy-to-measure inflammatory predictor of mortality in patients with acute stroke. However, it is unclear whether the NLR is related to other problems caused by stroke. This study evaluated the possible roles of the NLR in estimating mortality rate and health problems in patients with acute ischemic (IS) and hemorrhagic (H) stroke.
METHODS
A total of 180 patients with acute IS and H stroke were enrolled. NLR was calculated from the admission blood work. Patients were divided into two groups according to the NLR values (<5 and >5). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings were collected for the subjects. The correlations of NLR with mortality, infection incidences, and other parameters were determined using statistical analyses.
RESULTS
The percentages of lymphocytes and WBCs were significantly higher in IS stroke patients than H group, unlike neutrophil number (P < 0. 0001-0.01). In contrast with the serum levels of hemoglobin, Na, Chol, HTN, LDL, ESR, MCV, and CRP, triglyceride was significantly decreased in H group (P < 0.0001). IS group had a significant reduction in NLR (P < 0.0001). Patients with NLR of < 5 had a significant reduction in infectious diseases, unlike H group (P < 0.01). The NLR had no associations with bedscore, GIB, DVT, mortality rate. However, it was positively correlated to the numbers of WBC and RBC, and values of CRP, ESR, and hypertension (P < 0.001-0.05), unlike MCV in H group (P < 0.05). The NLR was not associated hemoglobin, triglyceride, Chol, and LDL levels.
CONCLUSION
Unlike previous studies, this study suggests that the NLR, along with other clinical and laboratory parameters, may be used to determine stroke type and predict patient susceptibility to some infectious diseases such as pneumonia. However, more investigations are required to clarify the role of the NLR in different aspects of acute stroke.
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