USE OF NEUTROPHILS TO LYMPHOCYTES RATIO AS AN INFLAMMATION MARKER IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC TONSILLITIS.

The aim of this study was to assess the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an inflammation marker in patients with chronic tonsillitis and to compare the NLR values to other inflammation markers, such as antistreptolysin-O (ASO), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Thirty patients aged between 4 and 15 y.o. who had undergone surgery for chronic tonsillitis were included in this retrospective study. Blood samples including haemogram, ASO, CRP and ESR were taken from the patients the day before and one month after the surgery and were analysed retrospectively. Preoperative ASO values were 170±75.5 U, CRP values were 7.6±5 mg/L, ESR values were 15.7±10 mm/H and NLR values were 0.9±0.2. Postoperative ASO values were 140.9±58.5 U, CRP values were 6.8±3.4 mg/L, ESR values were 12.5±5.4 mm/H and NLR values were 1.2±0.4. Statistically significant decreases were observed in the white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocytes, ASO and ESR results, with increase in NLR values after the surgery (p<0.05). The neutrophil and CRP values after the surgery have shown statistically insignificant decrease (p>0.05). The NLR values were compared with the ASO, CRP and ESR values, which were used as inflammation markers. Negative correlation was found between decrease in ASO and ESR and increase in the NLR values after the surgery.