Does Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Tell Something About Atherosclerosis in Hemodialysis Patients?

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries show the extent of systemic atherosclerosis. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) can be measured by ultrasonography. Inflammation is included in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may show inflammation and the patients who has higher cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to detect the relationship between NLR, C-reactive protein and CIMT. MATERIAL and METHODS: 75 hemodialysis patients (42 female, 33 male) were included in this study. Patients with active infection, known malignancy and a cardiovascular disease were excluded. CIMT was measured by B mode ultrasonography. Patients’ laboratory parameters at the time of inclusion were noted and NLR was calculated. RESULTS: Mean age was 58.07±16.23 years and 44% of the patients were male. Mean dialysis vintage was 79.27±67.06 months. In correlation analysis, CIMT was positively correlated with age, CRP and NLR (respectively r=.380 p=.001; r=.255 p=.005; r=.283 p=.014). By regression analysis age (β=.527, p=0.00), CRP (β=.419, p=0.001) and NLR (β=.251, p=0.022) were found to be independent determinants of CIMT. CONCLUSION: NLR was found to be independently correlated with CIMT in haemodialysis patients and may be used in cardiovascular risk assessment in clinical practice.