Predictive Values of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Other Prognostic Factors in Pediatric Patients With Bell’s Palsy

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Bell’s palsy (BP) is the most frequent cause of unilateral facial paralysis, and inflammation is believed to play an important role in pathogenesis. Due to its rarity, however, no consensus has been reached regarding optimum treatment or factors affecting prognosis. In the present study, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of BP were investigated in pediatric patients who underwent steroid therapy. The goal was to investigate the relationship between BP and inflammation using multiple inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and red cell distribution width (RDW). Materials and Methods: In all, 54 patients diagnosed with BP and 39 healthy randomly selected controls were enrolled in this retrospective study. Demographic characteristics and complete blood cell count test results were compared. In addition, prognostic factors were sought by dividing the 54 patients with BP into 2 groups according to the House-Brackmann grading system: low grade BP (grades II and III) and high grade BP (grades IV and V). Serum samples were analyzed retrospectively on initial presentation and 6 months after the symptom begins. Meaningful hematological parameters include NLR, PLR, MPV, and RDW. Results: The NLR values in the BP group were significantly higher than in the control group. The NLR value in the 2 groups of patients with BP differed significantly. The mean PLR value in the BP group was higher than in the control group; however, there were no significant differences between the low-grade and high-grade BP groups nor were there any statically significant differences in the other characteristics. Conclusion: The NLR and PLR values are readily accessible parameters that may be useful prognostic markers in pediatric patients with BP. Further studies are required to confirm these results and their utility in predicting prognosis and treating pediatric patients with BP.

Which hemogram-derived indices might be useful in predicting the clinical outcomes of sepsis patients in the intensive care unit?

“…Therefore, PLR becomes available as one of the markers of inflammatory events and a marker of mortality 23,27 . Kim et al concluded that NLR and PLR values were higher in the group with Bell's palsy compared to the control group and this was rumoured to be associated with inflammation 28 .…”

Hemogram Parameters of Children with Bell’s Palsy at the Time of Admission and Their Findings in the Follow-up

“…The median clinical recovery time was 10 (3-90) days. The median clinical recovery time was 30 (10-90) days in boys and 7 (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) days in girls, and the clinical recovery time was longer in boys (p=0.032). The hemogram parameters (leukocyte count, platelet count, neutrophil-lymphocytemonocyte percentage, RBC, Htc, Hb, MCV, RDW, MPV, NLR, MLR and PLR) of patients with Bell's palsy were similar to Lymphocytes direct immune system activity.…”

Predictive Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Idiopathic Facial Nerve Palsy

“… 13 Studies have shown that in patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy, higher levels of NLR are associated with more severe facial nerve palsy symptoms and longer recovery time. 30 However, although other research shows no significant difference in NLR levels between patients with differing prognoses. 31 Therefore, the relationship between NLR and idiopathic facial nerve palsy remains controversial.…”