title: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio--not an independent prognostic factor in patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was evaluated as a potential prognostic factor in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2009 and April 2014, 14 female (35%) and 26 male (65%) MDS patients who were followed up in our hematology clinic were included in the study for NLR during diagnosis. Division was into two groups according to the NLR, and the correlation with mortality was evaluated. The prognostic significance of NLR regarding treatment outcome was also evaluated with adjustment for known confounding risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality rate of the patient group was 55%, and median survival was 18 months. There was no significant correlation between mortality and NLR at a median value of 1.8 (p=0.75). Thrombocytopenia was observed to increase mortality (p=0.027), and there was a significant correlation between mortality and pancytopenia (p=0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first study of NLR and mortality did not show any significant correlation . In centres with limited access to genetic evaluation for the presence of pancytopenia and/or thrombocytopenia at the time of diagnosis, a platelet level less than 50?109/l may be poor prognostic markers in MDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey E-mail : sbakinci@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: Kamile
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silay
authors.forename: Arife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulas
authors.forename: Tekin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guney
authors.forename: Tuba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hacibekiroglu
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basturk
authors.forename: Muhammed Bulent
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: Afra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.forename: Imdat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dilek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor