title: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a diagnostic marker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and total bile acid (TBA) concentration in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting and postprandial TBA, NLR, and aminotransferase (AST/ALT) levels in the blood samples of 65 pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis were examined in this prospective case-control study. Thirty-three of the patients had mild disease and 32 had severe disease; 70 healthy women in uncomplicated pregnancies served as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Not only was the mean NLR elevated in the pregnant women with cholestasis when compared to the controls, but it also predicted the severity of the cholestasis. The correlation between fasting TBA and NLR was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although TBA is still the diagnostic standard, NLR can be used as an initial screening tool due to its high specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ayseozdemirkirbas@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biberoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Korkut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daglar
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cantekin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: İskender
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dede
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uygur
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danisman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Aminotransferase; Cholestasis of pregnancy; Hepatocellular injury; Inflammation