Association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with the occurrence of venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis

J Int Med Res. 2024 Apr;52(4):3000605241240999. doi: 10.1177/03000605241240999.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thrombosis (AT).

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study including 585 medical records obtained from all consecutive patients who were suspected of having thrombosis.

Results: The AT group had a higher neutrophil count and NLR and a lower lymphocyte count than the non-thrombosis group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the ability of the NLR to predict the presence of AT. The cut-off value for the NLR was 4.44. No distinction was found in the NLR between the VTE and non-thrombosis groups. Regression analysis showed that a high NLR was an independent factor related to the presence of AT. Patients with an NLR ≥ 4.44 had a higher risk of AT than those with an NLR < 4.44 (odds ratio = 2.015, 95% confidence interval: 1.180-3.443).

Conclusion: A high NLR may be considered a predictive factor for the occurrence of AT, but an association with the presence of VTE was not found.

Keywords: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; arterial thrombosis; lymphocyte; neutrophil; thrombosis; venous thromboembolism.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes
  • Neutrophils
  • Prognosis
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thrombosis*
  • Venous Thromboembolism* / diagnosis