assessment of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and mean platelet volume in pediatric familial mediterranean fever patients

background: blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (nlr) and mean platelet volume (mpv) both have been used as a simple marker of inflammation in many disorders. here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between nlr, mpv, and familial mediterranean fever (fmf). materials and methods: in this retrospective study, the fi les of fmf patients in pediatric rheumatology outpatient clinic were reviewed. there were 160 participants (68.4%) in the fmf patient group and 74 participants (31.6%) in the control group. ninety of patients were in attack-free period, and 70 were in attack period. results: the highest values of nlr were found in the patients at attack period. patients in attack-free period and the participants in control group had similar levels of nlr (1.71 ± 0.83 and 1.91 ± 1.86 respectively) ( p = 0.457), and they had lower ratios than the patients did at attack period (4.10 ± 3.11) ( p < 0.001 for both). there was no significant difference between mpv values of attack patients (8.35 ± 4.91) and attack-free patients (8.43 ± 1.15) ( p = 0.074).mpv values of attack patients and attack-free patients were significantly higher than control group (7.99 ± 0.81) ( p < 0.001 for both). conclusion: nlr ratio may indicate fmf attack period. since there was no significant difference between attack-free patients and control groups, nlr ratio cannot be used as a subclinical inflammation marker. however, nlr could be a useful predictor of inflammation in fmf patients. on the other hand, since our attack and attack-free patients have similar mpv values and both had greater mpv values than control group, we suggest that mpv may be used to show subclinical inflammation.