title: The Relationship between Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio and Age-related Macular Degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible associations of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were divided to three groups of 40 patients with non-neovascular ARMD (group 1), 40 patients with neovascular ARMD (group 2), and 40 healthy control subjects (group 3). The neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were evaluated using an ABX Pentra DF120/USA biochemical analyzer, and hs-CRP levels were measured using a Beckman Coulter Immage 800. The NLR was measured by dividing neutrophil count by lymphocyte count.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients in group 2 were older and more often diabetic than the patients in groups 1 and 3 (p< 0.001 andp< 0.001, respectively). The NLR level was 1.65 ± 0.71 in group 1, 1.98 ± 0.84 in group 2, and 1.46 ± 0.44 in group 3. The hs-CRP value was 1.98 ± 0.251 mg/L in group 1, 3.242 ± 0.211 mg/L in group 2, and 1.145 ± 0.193 mg/L in group 3. Both NLR and hs-CRP values were significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 3 (p= 0.002 andp= 0.002, respectively). In multivariate analysis, NLR remained an independent predictor of neovascular ARMD (odds ratio, 3.882; 95% confidence interval, 1.574 to 9.576;p= 0.003) together with age (p< 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p= 0.041), and hs-CRP (p= 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that increased NLR value is independently associated with neovascular ARMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bengi Ece
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kurtul
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar Altiaylik
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; C-reactive protein; Inflammation; Lymphocytes; Neutrophils