Are monocyte-to-HDL and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratios useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of Takayasu arteritis?

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio, red blood cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, monocyte/HDL ratio, and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of active and remission Takayasu arteritis patients compared with healthy control group. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study in which 56 Takayasu arteritis patients and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy control were included. The blood values of Takayasu arteritis patients were analyzed during their active period and post-treatment remission periods, after comparing them with the healthy control. Furthermore, all parameters were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/HDL ratio, and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio values were significantly higher in active Takayasu arteritis patients compared with healthy control and remission Takayasu arteritis groups. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis performed in active Takayasu arteritis and Takayasu arteritis patients in remission, C-reactive protein had the highest power to indicate disease activity, followed by C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and monocyte/HDL ratio. When Takayasu arteritis in remission was compared with the healthy control, a significant difference was found between erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, red blood cell distribution width, and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, while no significant difference was found between monocyte/HDL ratio values. CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein/albumin ratio and red blood cell distribution width can be used in the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis, and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, red blood cell distribution width, and monocyte/HDL ratio measurements can be used in the follow-up. As C-reactive protein/albumin ratio is more powerful than C-reactive protein in differentiating the Takayasu arteritis group from the healthy control group, evaluation of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio together with albumin instead of evaluation of C-reactive protein alone when diagnosing the disease may help us to obtain more accurate results in daily practice.