The Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Ischemic Stroke Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis and Its Relationship with Mortality, Disability, and Prognosis

• Main Authors: Fettah Eren, Ayşegül Demir, Güllü Eren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2021-05-01
• Series: İstanbul Medical Journal
• Subjects: ischemic stroke; intravenous thrombolysis; platelet/ lymphocyte ratio
• Online Access: http://istanbulmedicaljournal.org/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/the-platelet-lymphocyte-ratio-in-patients-with-sch/47289

Introduction:The platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been studied frequently to determine the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and malignancies. Particularly, the PLR is an indicator of systemic inflammation and atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the value of the PLR and its relationship with mortality, cerebral hemorrhagic transformation, and short-term prognosis in patients with stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis.Methods:Two hundred fifty stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis were included in the study. Initial symptoms, comorbidities, and localization of cerebral ischemia were recorded. Disability was scored on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stroke scale. At the 24th and 72nd hours after treatment, hemorrhagic transformation was evaluated by brain computed tomography. The in-hospital mortality rate was calculated. Patients were divided into groups according to the difference in the NIH stroke scale (between admission and discharge). Serum platelet and lymphocyte levels and PLR values were determined.Results:There were 128 (51.2%) female and 122 (48.8%) male patients included in the study. Their mean age was 71.88±12.36 years. The lymphocyte count was low and the PLR was high in patients with a high level of initial disability (p<0.01). The lymphocyte count was higher in patients with clinical improvement (p=0.023). The lymphocyte count was lower and the PLR was higher in patients who died (p<0.01). The platelet level was lower in patients with hemorrhagic transformation (p=0.024). The lymphocyte level and PLR were similar in the hemorrhagic transformation groups (p=0.156, p=0.675).Conclusion:In this study, it was determined that mortality is related to the PLR, and hemorrhagic transformation is related to platelet levels in patients with ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis.