The evaluation of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with first episode psychosis

Abstract

Introduction: There is a growing consensus in the literature that inflammation may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is a simple, inexpensive and reliable marker of inflammation. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between first episode psychosis (FEP) and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and to investigate if there is a relation between NLR and severity of disease.Methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed 58 FEP patients’ medical records from January 2011 to June 2014 who had been treated at our hospital. Hematologic parameters, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores and demographic data of the patients were obtained from the medical records of 58 FEP patients. Hematologic parameters and NLR values of 58 patients with FEP compared to values of 37 healthy control group. Correlation between NLR and BPRS scores were calculated.Results: Mean NLR was significantly higher in patients compared to control group (2.22 ± 1.25 vs. 1.63 ± 0.38, p = 0.041). Neutrophil count was not different between patients and healthy control (4.03 ± 0.70 vs. 4.20 ± 1.48, p = 0.525), but lymphocyte count was significantly lower in patients (2.56 ± 0.55 vs. 2.19 ± 0.77, p = 0.013). In the FEP patients, NLR was not significantly correlate with severity of disease (BPRS score) (n = 58; r = 0.060, p = 0.655).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that NLR levels are increased in physically healthy antipsychotic- naive first episode psychosis patients compared to physically and mentally healthy individuals.

Keywords

• brief psychiatric rating scale
• first-episode psychosis
• neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
• inflammation
• kısa psikiyatrik değerlendirme ölçeği
• ilk atak psikoz
• nötrofil lenfosit oranı
• inflamasyon