Value of NLR, PLR in Disease Activity and Lupus Nephritis Severity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with unknown etiology which has diverse clinical manifestations, course of illness and prognosis. The assessment of SLE patients is therefore difficult for the physician in daily practice. On the other hand, treatment could be different according to disease activity. SLE can be categorized as mild or severe and life threatening disease. Most patients with SLE develop kidney disease related to this systemic underlying disease process. Kidney failure is also the leading cause of death in these patients. Thus the early diagnosis of Lupus nephritis (LN) is helpful for patients. White blood cell (WBC) count is a serum marker for systemic inflammation. Neutrophils and lymphocytes play major roles in inflammatory processes. Under inflammatory conditions, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts undergo temporary changes. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a readily available marker that can convey important information about the patient inflammatory activity.