title: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio: a new marker for predicting steatohepatitis and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the most severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is associated with inflammation and increased oxidative stress. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L) integrates information on the inflammatory milieu and physiological stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the utility of N/L ratio to predict the presence of NASH in patients with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our cohort consisted of 101 consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsy for clinical suspicion of NAFLD. Patients were divided into two groups: NASH group (n = 50) and not NASH group (n = 51). The stage of fibrosis was measured using a 4-point scale. The total white cell count, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were recorded, and the N/L ratio was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 49.5 (± 10.8) years and the mean BMI was 31.4 (± 4.9) kg/m(2) . Patients with NASH had a higher N/L ratio compared with patients with not NASH [2.5 (1.9-3.3) and 1.6 (1.2-2.0), respectively, P < 0.001]. The N/L ratio correlated with the NAFLD activity score and its individual components (steatosis, inflammation and ballooning P < 0.001). Patients with advanced fibrosis (F3-4) had an elevated N/L ratio [2.9 (2.0-3.9)] compared with patients with fibrosis stage 1-2 [1.8 (1.2-2.2)], P < 0.001. For each one-unit increase in N/L ratio, the likelihood of having NASH increased by 70% and the likelihood of having fibrosis increased by 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The N/L ratio is higher in patients with NASH and advanced fibrosis. This ratio can be used as a novel noninvasive marker to predict advanced disease.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Institute, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. alkhoun@ccf.org
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alkhouri
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morris-Stiff
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Tarek Abu-Rajab
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Tamimi
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yerian
authors.forename: Nizar N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Zein
authors.forename: Ariel E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Feldstein
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve