Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of psoriasis in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a skin inflammation characterized by papules and plaques on the skin surface. Almost 125 million people are affected by psoriasis worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of psoriasis. Methods: Blood samples of patients with psoriasis and healthy controls were collected for complete blood count testing. A t-test was applied to estimate the difference in the hematological parameters between the two groups. Results: The hemoglobin level (p < 0.0001), hematocrit level (p < 0.0001), red blood cell count (p < 0.0001), mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.0002), platelet count (p = 0.0039), white blood cell count (p = 0.0002), neutrophil count (p = 0.0001), monocyte count (p < 0.0001), and eosinophil count (p = 0.0467) significantly differed between the groups. Meanwhile, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.3989) and lymphocyte count (p = 0.3842) did not. The patients with psoriasis had a higher neutrophil count and a lower lymphocyte count than the healthy controls. The NLR was significantly elevated in the patients with psoriasis. Conclusion: The NLR is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of psoriasis.