Objective: Investigations on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with ischemic stroke are insufficient. We aimed to investigate the relationship of NLR and LMR with in-hospital clinical outcomes at different time points in ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous tissues plasminogen activator (IV tPA).
Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients who received IV tPA therapy within 4.5 hours from symptoms onset. Demographics, clinical characteristics, imaging measures, and the in-hospital clinical outcomes including early neurological improvement (ENI, defined as NIHSS score reduction within 24 hours ≥ 4 points or decreased to the baseline) and favorable functional outcome (defined as modified Rankin scale 0– 1) were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to test whether NLR or LMR was an independent predictor for the in-hospital clinical outcomes.
Results: One hundred and two patients treated with IV tPA were included. NLR at 24 hours proved to be an independent predictor of ENI (adjusted OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.75– 0.95, P =0.04). NLR at 48 hours and LMR at 48 hours proved to be independent predictors of mRS 0– 1 at discharge (NLR at 48 hours: adjusted OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.49– 0.83, P =0.01; LMR at 48 hours: adjusted OR=1.50, 95% CI=1.08– 2.09, P =0.02). The AUC of NLR at 48 hours to predict favorable functional outcome at discharge was 0.79 (95% CI=0.70– 0.88, P < 0.001) and the optimal cut-off was 5.69 (sensitivity=0.52, specificity=0.63).
Conclusion: In our study, NLR at 24 hours was correlated with ENI. Both NLR and LMR at 48 hours were closely associated with favorable functional outcomes at discharge.
Keywords: stroke, thrombolysis, tissue plasminogen activator, neutrophil, inflammation