Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio increases in patients with dry eye

Abstract

Purpose:To assess the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an indicator of inflammation in patients with non-Sjogren dry eye disease.Methods:Serum NLR and C-reactive protein values were determined in 33 patients with dry eye and in 32 controls. the NLR was calculated by dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count.Results:Characteristics of the dry eye and control groups were similar. the mean NLR value was 2.8 1.4 (range: 1.1-6.1) in the dry eye group and 1.6 +/- 0.7 (range: 0.8-2.8) in the control group (P = 0.002, t test). the mean C-reactive protein value was 0.6 +/- 0.7 mg/dL (range: 0-2.3 mg/dL) in the dry eye group and 0.5 +/- 0.6 mg/dL (range: 0-1.9 mg/dL) in the control group (P = 0.307, t test).Conclusions:The NLR values were found to be higher in patients with non-Sjogren dry eye than in controls. This result suggests that non-Sjogren dry eye disease may be associated with systemic inflammation or the NLR values may increase in local inflammatory ocular diseases.