Relationship Between Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and Albuminuria in Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio and albuminuria in diabetic patients.

MATERIAL and METHODS: This study included 170 diabetic patients. The patients were divided 3 groups according to urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR). The first group included patients with normoalbuminuria (UACR <0.030). The second group included patients with moderately increased albuminuria (0.030-0.300), whereas the third group consisted of patients with severely increased albuminuria (UACR>0.300).

RESULTS: N/L ratio was 1.83, 2.23, and 2.77 in first, second, and third group, respectively. It was meaningfully higher in third group when compared with two groups. Although there was no statistically meaningful difference between the first group and the second group, it was higher in the second group than that in the first group. The hemoglobin concentration was 14.3 ±1.6 g/dl, 13.6 ± 1.8 g/dl, and 12.4 ± 1.8 g/dl in the first, second, and third group, respectively. It was significantly lower in the third group when compared with other groups. However, there was no meaningful difference between the first group and the second group. Presence of anemia increased step-wise from the first group to the third group (8.7%, 21.3%, and 48.1%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: N/L ratio and anemia associate closely with albuminuria in diabetic patients.