Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Potential Biomarker of Neovascular Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate blood count–derived inflammation indexes as a detection or predictive marker for neovascular glaucoma (NVG) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: This was a retrospective, case-control study design. The level of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (N), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR) were evaluated in NVG patients secondary to RVO or DR.

Results: A significant difference was found in those biomarkers between control group and NVG secondary to RVO or DR. Logistic regression analysis revealed these indexes were associated with the risk of NVG in DR and RVO patients. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between NLR and visual fields mean deviation in the NVG-RVO group.

Conclusions: This study indicated that WBC, N, NLR, and LMR were related to NVG, and NLR may be useful as an potential inflammation biomarker indicating the risk and severity for NVG secondary to RVO.

Keywords:

• Biomarker
• diabetic retinopathy
• inflammation
• neovascular glaucoma
• neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
• retinal vein occlusion

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Additional information

Funding

This research project was supported by Shanghai Sailing Program (18YF1403500), Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (20174Y0169), Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (201840050), the Funds for International Cooperation and Exchange of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81020108017), the National Health and Family Planning Commission, China (201302015), the National Major Scientific Equipment program, the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2012YQ12008003), the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (81430007), the New Technology Research Project, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (2013SY058), and Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation grant (19411964600). The sponsor and/or funding organizations had no role in the design or completion of this research.