Characteristics of platelet indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and erythrocyte sedimentation rate compared with C reactive protein in patients with cerebral infarction: a retrospective analysis of comparing haematological parameters and C reactive protein

OBJECTIVE Elevation of C reactive protein (CRP) is one of the major acute-phase responses following ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke. This study aims to investigate the associations between platelet indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) compared with CRP in patients with cerebral infarction. SETTING The clinical data of patients with cerebral infarction were analysed retrospectively. PARTICIPANTS We analysed, unduplicated, 516 patients with cerebral infarction (mean age 66.2±12.7, male/female=291/225). OUTCOME MEASURES Mean platelet volume (MPV), MPV to platelet count, NLR and ESR were compared with CRP in patients with cerebral infarction in a single institute through Spearman correlation test. RESULTS There were significant correlations between CRP and MPV (ρ=0.088, p=0.045), NLR (ρ=0.4, p<0.001) and ESR (ρ=0.468, p<0.001) in patients with cerebral infarction. In the male group, NLR (ρ=0.398, p<0.001) and ESR (ρ=0.502, p<0.001) showed significant correlations with CRP. In the female group, CRP showed significant correlations with MPV (ρ=0.17, p=0.011), NLR (ρ=0.392, p<0.001) and ESR (ρ=0.475, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS MPV, NLR and ESR showed significant correlation with CRP in patients with cerebral infarction. MPV and NLR are cost-effective and simple parameters that can be attainable by using an automatic haematology analyser. Further well-designed and large-scale prospective studies are warranted to evaluate platelet indices or NLR for monitoring patients with cerebral infarction.