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Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease | Research

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an independent predictor for neurological disability in patients with idiopathic transverse myelitis

Authors: Je Hong Min, Sung-Yeon Sohn, Seung Yeon Lee, Sang Hyun Seo, Shin Yeop Kim, Bumhee Park, Seung Il Kim, In Soo Joo

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Introduction

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been found to be useful in the prognostication of immune-mediated neurological disorders because it roughly reflects the systemic innate immune response compared to the adaptive immune response. However, studies on the validity of NLR in demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system have shown conflicting results. Therefore, we aimed to investigate NLR in the idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) cohort.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the cohort data of patients with ITM between January 2006 and February 2020. The medical data of all patients with myelitis were reviewed to exclude patients with disease-associated myelopathy according to predefined exclusion criteria. The relationship between the natural log-transformed NLR (lnNLR) and the clinical, paraclinical, and imaging data was evaluated. Factors associated with neurological disability were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. Predictive factors for moderate-to-severe neurological disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score ≥ 4) were investigated.

Results

A total of 124 participants were included in the analysis. The lnNLR correlated with EDSS and lesion length. Linear mixed-effects analysis showed that age, lesion length, and lnNLR were independently associated with neurological disabilities. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that lnNLR (odds ratio [OR] = 4.266, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.220–14.912, p = 0.023) and lesion length (OR = 1.848, 95% CI = 1.249–2.734, p = 0.002) were independent predictive factors of the worst neurological disability.

Conclusion

NLR may be used as an independent prognostic factor for predicting poor neurological outcomes in patients with ITM.
Literature
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Metadata
Title
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an independent predictor for neurological disability in patients with idiopathic transverse myelitis
Authors
Je Hong Min
Sung-Yeon Sohn
Seung Yeon Lee
Sang Hyun Seo
Shin Yeop Kim
Bumhee Park
Seung Il Kim
In Soo Joo
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-023-03384-3

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