title: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio may be superior to C-reactive protein for predicting the occurrence of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies revealed that inflammation plays a critical role in bone remodeling and the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis, a major health concern. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a cost-effective marker of inflammation that has been linked with several diseases. This study aimed to compare NLR and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in osteopenic, osteoporotic, and control subjects and to assess the correlation between NLR levels, CRP, and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, the relationship between NLR, CRP, and BMD in 438 women was investigated using uni- and multivariate analyses. BMD (g/cm²) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the lumbar spine and femur. Complete blood count (CBC), CRP, glucose/lipid metabolism, and established risk factors were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the osteoporotic group, NLR and CRP levels were found to be elevated as compared to the osteopenic and control groups (NLR: 4.68 ± 0.72, 3.17 ± 0.43, 2.01 ± 0.54; CRP: 12.3 ± 4.1, 4.1 ± 2.7, 3.2 ± 2.1, respectively). A negative correlation was present between NLR and the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck BMD after adjusting other risk factors. There was no correlation between CRP levels and BMD after adjusting other risk factors. NLR was significantly associated with L2-L4 BMD (ß = -0.653, p<0.001) and femoral neck BMD (ß = -0.178, p<0.001), but CRP level had no association with BMD in a multivariate model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that NLR may be a better predictor than CRP for occurrence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yilmaz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Uyfun
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Yilmaz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Namuslu
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Inan
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Taskin
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cakmak
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Bilgic
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Bavbek
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Akcay
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kosar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein