Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio: Is it Higher in Bronchiectasis than in COPD?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION[|]There are similarities in the symptoms and attacks of bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic systemic inflammation in COPD and destructive pulmonary inflammation in bronchiectasis lead to increases in inflammatory markers. The presence of peripheral blood eosinophil (PBE)(>2%) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) affect the type of attack and the treatment approach. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in inflammatory markers and the presence of PBE in COPD and bronchiectasis.[¤]METHODS[|]A retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed in 2014 with bronchiectasis (J47.0-ICD) or COPD (J44.0-J44.9-ICD) at the inpatient or outpatient clinics of a chest disease hospital was performed. Patients with cancer, hematological disease, renal disease, or COPD with bronchiectasis were excluded. Demographic details and the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were recorded, and the NLR was calculated. The study groups were then sub-classified according to PBE.[¤]RESULTS[|]In all, 2664 patients (outpatient bronchiectasis: n=1024, outpatient COPD: 775; inpatient bronchiectasis: n=180, inpatient COPD n=685) were included. The NLR was significantly lower in the bronchiectasis group. The median CRP level was lower in those with bronchiectasis than in the COPD inpatien group. The PBE values in the bronchiectasis and COPD inpatient groups was 24% and 40%, respectively and 18% and 40% in outpatient groups, respectively. The NLR in patients with PBE was lower than that observed in noneosinophilic patients.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Inflammatory markers were lower in patients with bronchiectasis than in those with COPD. Continuous anti-inflammatory treatment may be recommended for patients with COPD. NLR and PBE may be able to indicate the nature of advisable treatment in further studies.[¤]

Keywords

• bronchiectasis
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• inflammatory markers
• neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio.