Correlation of clinical signs and symptoms of Behcet's disease with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)

Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic disorder that involves multiple organs and is pathologically considered as a form of vasculitis. The current study aims to assess the metric properties of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in assessing BD disease activity. Three-hundred-nineteen patients with BD were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic and epidemiological data, including IBDDAM, time since the onset, and medication and manifestation history were recorded. Complete blood counts (CBC), NLR, and PLR were assessed by analyzing blood samples. On the last visit, patients were assessed for active manifestations of disease. IBDDAM and ocular IBDAAM scores were calculated for activity of disease in each patient. Both PLR and NLR were higher in patients with active BD (Mann-Whitney U test, p-value < 0.05). Patients with active ocular manifestation had significantly higher NLR and PLR (Mann-Whitney U test, p-value < 0.05). These ratios, however, were not associated with other active BD manifestations. A value of NLR > 2.58 had 46% sensitivity and 85% specificity for the diagnosis of active ocular manifestations (AUC: 0.690). NLR had a significant, though, weak positive correlation with IBDDAM (Spearman's rho = 0.162; p-value < 0.05) and ocular IBDDAM (Spearman's rho = 0.159; p-value < 0.05). Active Behcet's presented with higher NLR and PLR ratios; however, there was only a modest correlation between NLR and BD activity (IBDDAM score). Also, NLR and PLR have significant relationship with ocular features of BD patients.

Automated summary

Active Behcet's patients show higher NLR and PLR ratios, especially in those with active ocular manifestations. The NLR value > 2.58 has 46% sensitivity and 85% specificity for diagnosing active ocular manifestations. There is a modest correlation between NLR and BD activity, with significant relationship of NLR and PLR with ocular features of BD patients.