Assessing systemic inflammation and its prognostic value: Glasgow Prognostic Score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or other options?

Abstract

Purpose of review: Systemic inflammation represents a complex, widespread physiological response initiated by the body in response to various noxious stressors, including infections, trauma, surgery, and chronic diseases. The assessment of systemic inflammation relies on a spectrum of measurable biological indicators.This review evaluates the current evidence on several systemic inflammation biomarkers, including the traditional Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and other emerging indices such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI).

Recent findings: Several simple biomarkers can assess systemic inflammation, each with specific strengths and limitations. The GPS is a well validated index in oncology and is increasingly being used in cardiovascular disease, integrating inflammatory and nutritional status. Blood count-derived ratios such as NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, and SIRI are widely available and have shown prognostic value across different clinical conditions. Current evidence supports their use in risk stratification and clinical decision-making, though interpretation should always consider the overall clinical picture.

Summary: Inflammation biomarkers like GPS, NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, and SIRI offer accessible tools for risk stratification, with clinical utility varying by context and requiring further standardization.