Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio as Inflammatory Markers In Patients With Welders' Lung Disease.

OBJECTIVE To investigate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with welders' lung disease (PWLD) and its relation with pulmonary function parameters. METHODS 116 male PWLD and 118 healthy non-exposed individuals were recruited. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (SED), c- reactive protein (CRP), NLR and PLR of both groups were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS NLR, PLR, WBC, ESR and CRP were significantly higher in PWLD compared to controls (all p < 0.001). All pulmonary function tests,except for FEV1/FVC, significantly decreased in PWLD compared to controls as. NLR correlated positively with ESR (r = 0,241 and p < 0,001). CONCLUSION Our results show that NLR and PLR can be considered as new inflammatory markers in PWLD with their cheap, fast and easily measurable feature with routine blood count analysis.