Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: A meta-analysis.

In 30 seconds

This meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among 4,006 SLE patients and 2,576 healthy controls. The study found that NLR was significantly higher in SLE patients compared to controls (SMD = 1.051, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (correlation coefficient = 0.354, p < 0.001).

Key findings

• NLR was significantly higher in SLE patients compared to healthy controls (SMD = 1.051, p < 0.001).
• Active SLE patients had a higher NLR than those with inactive disease (SMD = 1.134, p = 0.012).
• NLR showed a significant positive correlation with SLEDAI (correlation coefficient = 0.354, p < 0.001).
• Significant correlations were found in Asian (correlation coefficient = 0.358) and Arab (correlation coefficient = 0.525) populations.

Why it matters

Understanding the association between NLR and disease activity in SLE can aid clinicians in assessing disease severity and monitoring treatment response, potentially guiding management strategies.