Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Disease Severity in Ulcerative Colitis

BackgroundBlood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is an indicator of the overall inflammatory status of the body, and an alteration in N/L ratio may be found in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the utility of N/L ratio as a simple and readily available predictor for clinical disease activity in UC. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:72-76, 2013. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. MethodsTwenty-six patients and 28 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were recorded, and the N/L ratio was calculated from these parameters. The extent of disease classified according to the Montreal classification, clinical disease activity was evaluated using a modified Truelove-Witts severity index, and endoscopic disease activities were classified according to Schroder et al. ResultsThe serum N/L ratios of active patients were significantly higher than those of inactive UC and controls (P < 0.001). The optimum N/L ratio cut-off point for active UC was 2.47. There was no significant difference between inflammation parameters, disease extension, and disease activity. ConclusionOur results demonstrate that N/L ratio is higher in patients with active UC compared with controls and UC patients in remission and a cut-off value of 2.47 can be used to identify patients with active ulcerative colitis.