The aim of this study is to investigate the association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. A total of 172 patients undergoing coronary angiography were included in the study. Control group consisted of patients with normal coronary arteries. Patients with coronary stenosis were divided into 2 groups by use of Gensini scores. The NLR was higher in severe atherosclerosis group compared with mild atherosclerosis and control groups (P < .001). In correlation analysis, NLR showed significant correlation with Gensini score. A cutoff value of 2.5 for NLR predicted severe atherosclerosis with a sensitivity and specificity of 62% and 69%, respectively. After multivariate analysis, high levels of NLR were independent predictors of severe atherosclerosis together with glucose and high-density lipoprotein. Our study suggests that the NLR is a predictor of severe atherosclerosis that may be useful for cardiac risk stratification in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective:In this study, we aimed to explore the association between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the severity of atherosclerosis in coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods:Clinical and laboratory data of 388 patients who underwent coronary angiography were evaluated retrospectively. Gensini score, which indicates the severity of atherosclerosis, was calculated for all of the patients. Patients with CAD were categorized as mild and severe atherosclerosis, according to their Gensini score. Eighty patients with normal coronary arteries formed the control group. Mean PLR values of the three study groups were compared. Also, PLR value was tested for whether it showed a positive correlation with Gensini score.Results:The mean PLR of the severe atherosclerosis group was significantly higher than that of the mild atherosclerosis and controls groups (p<0.001). Also, PLR was positively correlated with Gensini score in CAD patients. A cut-off value of 111 for PLR predicted severe atherosclerosis with 61% sensitivity and 59% specificity. Pre-procedural PLR level was found to be independently associated with Gensini score, together with WBC, age, and low HDL level, in the multivariate analysis.Conclusion:Our study suggests that high PLR appears to be additive to conventional risk factors and commonly used biomarkers in predicting severe atherosclerosis.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is associated with increased morbidity, extended hospital stay, and higher costs. We compared an atorvastatin plus N-acetylcysteine (NAC) regimen with NAC alone in patients undergoing coronary angiography. A total of 130 patients (mean age 54 +/- 10; 77 men) undergoing coronary angiography were studied. Seven CIN cases occurred in the NAC group and 2 in the atorvastatin + NAC group; this difference was not significant. Baseline mean creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were similar between the 2 groups, whereas after the procedure there was a significant creatinine decrease and eGFR increase in the atorvastatin + NAC group. Change in creatinine (baseline creatinine-creatinine after the procedure) was also significantly higher in patients taking statin plus NAC. Atorvastatin may be effective in protecting patients undergoing coronary angiography from CIN.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of the preprocedural platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for predicting no reflow in patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) for the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grades of 287 patients treated with primary PCI were assessed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 3 tertiles based upon preprocedural PLR. Pre- and postprocedural TIMI flow grades were evaluated. No reflow developed in 6, 14, and 43 patients in the lower, middle, and higher tertiles, respectively (P < .001). After multivariate analysis, PLR remained a significant predictor of no reflow together with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). A cutoff value of 160 for PLR and 5.9 for NLR predicted no reflow with sensitivities and specificities of 75% and 71% and 74% and 70%, respectively. In conclusion, high preprocedural PLR and NLR levels are significant and independent predictors of no reflow in patients undergoing primary PCI.

Objective:Platelets and inflammatory cells are vital elements of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Recent studies have shown that the plateletto-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is associated with several malignancies; however, there are not enough data in cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the association between PLR and in-hospital mortality in patients with ACS.Methods:We retrospectively collected patients with ACS undergoing coronary angiography. Total and differential leukocyte counts were measured by an automated hematology analyzer.Results:This study is single-centered and observational. In total, 587 patients with a mean age of 61.8±13.1 years (68.4% male) were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 3 tertiles based on PLR levels. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among patients in the upper PLR tertile when compared with the middle and lower PLR tertile groups [29 (14.8%) vs. 17 (8.7%) and 2 (1.0%); p<0.001]. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, a high level of PLR was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality, together with age, total leukocyte count, and creatinine. Using a cutoff point of 142, the PLR predicted in-hospital mortality with a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 63%.Conclusion:Different from other inflammatory markers and assays, PLR is an inexpensive and readily available biomarker that may be useful for cardiac risk stratification in patients with ACS.