Lymphocyte Ratio

Neutrophils and lymphocytes constitute the first line of defense within the body against foreign invaders. Neutrophils and lymphocytes are the first inflammation and regulatory markers, respectively, found in injured areas. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), calculated by dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count, Use of NLR as an inflammatory marker has been previously reported. A recent study showed that NLR is a strong prognostic indicator for patients suffering from various diseases. Further, NLR has also been associated with poor clinical outcomes in a variety of diseases including myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and high nuclear grade renal cell carcinoma in obese individuals. Earlier studies demonstrated an association between increased NLR and decreased overall survival and disease-free survival in melanoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer.