Neutrophils to lymphocytes and platelets to lymphocytes ratios in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus

Abstract

Systemic liver inflammation occurs as the result of liver injury. This can be cause by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Whether neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR) are capable to be included as systemic inflammatory markers or not will be investigated. Their correlations with liver function tests and with viral DNA were also tested in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Patients and Methods: Blood sample were taken from patients (n=42) and from the healthy control (n=20).HBV-DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), total white blood cells count as well as neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets were done for each individual. Also, liver function tests were estimated. Results: The platelets counts in the blood of patients was significantly decreased when compared with that of the healthy control (P<0.002).The percentage of neutrophil was also decreased in patients when compare with the control value. Such percent was not significant (P<0.837). Further, the percentage of lymphocyte was not significantly increased in the blood of patients when compare with the healthy control value (P<0.72). Taken together, the NLR and PLR were decreased in patients when compare with the healthy control values but such decreases were not significant (P<0.89 and 0.28, respectively). PLR was significantly and positively correlated with ALT and viral DNA (P<0.02, P<0.04, respectively). Conclusion: NLR and PLR, as systemic inflammatory markers cannot be used as indicators for the presence of liver inflammation in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. In spite, such chronicity can only reduce platelets and lymphocytic counts.