title: New Predictive Parameters of Bell's Palsy: Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bell's palsy is the most frequent cause of unilateral facial paralysis. Inflammation is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Bell's palsy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are simple and inexpensive tests which are indicative of inflammation and can be calculated by all physicians. The aim of this study was to reveal correlations of Bell's palsy and degree of paralysis with NLR and PLR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was performed January 2010 and December 2013. Ninety-nine patients diagnosed as Bell's palsy were included in the Bell's palsy group and ninety-nine healthy individuals with the same demographic characteristics as the Bell's palsy group were included in the control group. As a result of analyses, NLR and PLR were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean NLR was 4.37 in the Bell's palsy group and 1.89 in the control group with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). The mean PLR was 137.5 in the Bell's palsy group and 113.75 in the control group with a statistically significant difference (p=0.008). No statistically significant relation was detected between the degree of facial paralysis and NLR and PLR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NLR and the PLR were significantly higher in patients with Bell's palsy. This is the first study to reveal a relation between Bell's palsy and PLR. NLR and PLR can be used as auxiliary parameters in the diagnosis of Bell's palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Doğan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aykut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: İkincioğulları
authors.affiliation: Tarsus State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köseoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kürşat Murat
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Özcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Çetin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ensari
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dere
keywords: Bell’s palsy; inflammation; lymphocytes; neutrophils; platelets