The relation between neutrophil and platelet to lymphocyte ratios and the evidence of coronary artery disease in myocardial perfusion imaging

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Research Center, Namazi Teaching Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Department of Cardiology, Kosar Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

10.22034/irjnm.2024.129774.1642

Abstract

Introduction: Various inflammatory markers have been suggested for prognostic purposes and management of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, with the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) emerging as a promising marker for evaluating CAD. This study aimed to assess the correlation of NLR and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with abnormal perfusion findings in single photon computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) in patients with suspected CAD.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 171 patients during the period of 6 months were enrolled and the NLR and PLR were calculated for all of them. Patients with significant valvular or structural heart disease, or inflammatory disease, and those taking anti-inflammatory drugs were excluded. Perfusion and function parameters of SPECT MPI were extracted and compared in patients with NLR≥ 3 and NLR <3. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 20, and P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Individuals with NLR≥ 3 were significantly older (P= 0.046). A comparison of quantitative functional parameters of the SPECT MPI showed that there was a statistically significant difference between NLR≥ 3 and NLR <3 groups in terms of summed motion score (P=0.012), total perfusion deficit at rest (P=0.022), and ejection fraction (P=0.016). However, no significant difference was found when comparing quantitative function and perfusion parameters between high (PLR>180) and low PLR groups.
Conclusions: According to our study, NLR is correlated with perfusion and function abnormalities in SPECT MPI in patients with clinical suspicion of CAD.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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