Abstract

Background: There is role of the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as laboratory biomarkers that detect the presence and activity of different diseases. Measuring the PLR and NLR levels as possible indicators of activity status among ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients was the main goal of the current study. Methods: This study included 86 subjects divided into 43 AS patients and 43 apparently healthy volunteers serving as controls. For assessment of disease activity among AS patients we used the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), by which the studied AS patients were split to the following groups based on their level of activity; one group considered as inactive group (BASDAⅠ < 4) and the second group considered as active group (BASDAⅠ ≥ 4), laboratory data were collected from studied participants as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count including white blood cell count, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts. Results: PLR and NLR ratios were not significantly differ between AS patients and healthy control group as (P > 0.05), however both PLR and NLR ratios were significantly differ between inactive (BASDAⅠ < 4) and active (BASDAⅠ ≥ 4) studied AS patients (P<0.05). BASDAI score was significantly correlated with PLR, NLR, CRP and ESR among AS patients. Conclusion: PLR and NLR ratios are both useful indicators for determining and tracking disease activity among AS patients.