Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an immune-inflammatory disorder. The urticaria activity score (UAS 7) is used to assess urticaria activity. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a reliable indicator for inflammatory conditions. Parameters useful for the evaluation of patients with CSU are not currently available. Objectives: To assess NLR in CSU patients and its correlation with urticaria activity score.
Patients and methods: Of the patients attending the allergy clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital, 200 patients with CSU, including 62 patients with mild disease, 68 with moderate disease, and 70 with severe disease according to urticaria activity score 7 (UAS7), and 200 controls, were included in this study. NLR values were compared among various study groups.
Results: NLR values were significantly higher among CSU patients than controls (p < 0.001), with no significant correlation with urticaria activity score.
Conclusion: NLR is a rapid, simple, and low-cost blood marker that can be used to detect systemic inflammatory processes in patients with CSU.