Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Reliable Predictive Marker in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract
Background: SLE is a complex autoimmune disease with heterogenous clinical manifestations and disease course, Nephritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lupus. Many clinical parameters and laboratory markers can be used to evaluate disease activity. NLR is positively associated with inflammatory disorders.
Objectives: Is to evaluate the Neutrophil Lymphocytic ratio (NLR) as a reliable predictive and prognostic marker in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Methods: The present study was carried out on 60 patients and 20 healthy individuals as controls. Patients were classified into: Group I: 40 SLE patients with active disease, which was sub divided into two subgroups: Group IA included thirty SLE patients with LN and Group IB included ten SLE patients with active disease without nephritis. Group II: 20 SLE patients with inactive disease. Group III: 20 apparently healthy vol-unteers as controls. CBC, serum creatinine, ESR, CRP, ANA, Anti-ds DNA, C3, C4, 24-hour protein in urine and urine analysis were done to all participants.
Results: The NLR of SLE patients was significantly higher compared to that of the controls. Furthermore, SLE patients with nephritis had higher NLR levels than those without nephritis.
Conclusion: NLR is a useful, simple and bed side inflam-matory marker for assessment of disease activity in patients with SLE. Also, NLR is a promising predictor of lupus ne-phritis.