Interrelation between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and chronic lower limb ischemia

Abstract

Purpose. The aim is to study the specifics of neutrophil - lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with chronic lower extremity ischemia. Material and methods. In the course of the prospective study, the analysis of the NLR parameters in 282 patients with peripheral arterial occlusions was performed. All patients were divided into 4 groups, according to the classification of peripheral arterial disease - TASC II. Evaluation of the NLR parameters was performed on admission before surgical or conservative treatment administration. Results. The average NLR number by groups was as follows: TASC A – 2.76 ± 0.72; TASC B – 4.00 ± 1.2; TASC C – 4.5 ± 2.38 and TASC D – 5.15 ± 2.09. NLR level significantly increased with a greater degree of TASC II. The indices of NLR were significantly higher in patients with a more “aggressive” and multilevel type of lesions, namely TASC II C and D. In patients with lesions type D the level of NLR was 46.4 % more than in patients with TASC II type A lesion. Conclusions. The value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was 29.8 % (P < 0.05) higher in patients with C and D atherosclerotic lesion types according to TASC II classification than in patients with lesions of type A and B. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio greater than 3.05 could be interpreted as a marker of more diffuse lower limb atherosclerotic lesion given the sensitivity and specificity levels (70.7 %, 75.8 %; P < 0.001).

Keywords

• atherosclerosis ischemia
• arterial occlusive diseases
• lower limb