title: Does neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predict active ulcerative colitis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory markers have been studied in ulcerative colitis (UC) for diagnosis, disease activity, and prediction of relapse. Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio has been used to determine outcomes of some malignancies and coronary artery disease. Blood N/L ratio is a simple sign of clinical inflammation. In this study, we examined N/L ratio in recurrent patients suffering from UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of the present study was to analyze N/L ratios in serum samples of UC patients in remission and active phases. Patients' age, extend of the disease, disease duration, disease activity, drug, and other medical history were all noted for patients. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and complete blood count were determined for patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine UC patients were admitted into the present study. The blood N/L ratios were significantly increased in active phase compared with inactive UC patients (p < 0.05). The cut-off value for N/L ratio for the detection of active UC patients was calculated as ≥ 2.3 using receiver operating characteristic analysis [sensitivity: 61.2 %, specificity: 66.7 %, AUC: 0.650 (0.540-0.760), p = 0.01].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present study shows that in patients with UC, the blood N/L ratio is associated with active disease. N/L ratio may be used as an activity parameter in UC.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Golkoy, 14280, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Posul
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Gulali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: Mevlut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000379:methods*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers