Is C-reactive protein to albumin ratio an indicator of poor prognosis in Bell's palsy?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio was associated with the prognosis in patients with Bell's palsy.

METHODS

Reviewing records of 79 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy, 3 groups were constituted: recovered group (with a House Brackman grade of 1 or 2 after treatment, 56 patients), unrecovered group (23 patients) and control group (60 healthy individuals). Age, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein to albumin ratio, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell and hemoglobin values were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

Age, hemoglobin and platelet to lymphocyte ratio were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.12, p = 0.31, p = 0.86 and p = 0.87, respectively). Median C-reactive protein to albumin ratio, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and white blood cell were significantly greater both in non-recovery group (p < 0.001) and recovery group (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared to the control group. Additionally, median C-reactive protein to albumin ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were significantly greater in the non-recovery group, compared to the recovery group (p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). However, median white blood cell did not significantly differ between the non-recovery and the recovery groups (p = 0.89).

CONCLUSION

Higher C-reactive protein to albumin ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were associated with poor prognosis in patients with Bell's palsy. C-reactive protein to albumin ratio might be the most significant indicator of poor prognosis in patients with Bell's palsy.