DOES NEUTROPHIL / LYMPHOCYTE RATIO CONTRIBUTE TO DIAGNOSTICS IN PATIENTS WITH FASCIOLIASIS?

MUTALIP ÇICEK¹, ÖZCAN DEVECI², ZEYNEPTAŞ CENGIZ³, ALICAN BILDEN⁴ ÖZGE ALKAN BILIK⁴

¹Ahi Evran University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Kırşehir/Turkey - ²Elazig Medical Park Hospital, Department of Clinic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Elazig/Turkey - ³Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Parasitology, Van/Turkey - ⁴Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Diyarbakir/Turkey

Introduction: Fasciolia sp. is a trematode causes infection by settling in the liver bile ducts of domestic animal and human liver. Fascioliasis is a parasite disease that might have changes in liver parenchyma and in bile ducts. Many inflammatory reactions occur during the settlement of larvae and mature parasites into the liver. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has become a promi- nent marker of underlying inflammation. The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the hematologi- cal parameters in patients with fascioliasis.

Materials and methods: The diagnosis of fascioliasis was based on patient history, clinical and laboratory findings, radiologi- cal imaging (ultrasound), stool examination and IgG antibody titer determination by ELISA. Clinical and laboratory data were col- lected for 56 patients with fascioliasis, and diagnosed with serological and radiological imaging. 56 healthy volunteers were selected for the control group. Stool and blood samples were collected from patients with fascioliasis for serologic, biochemical, hematologic tests and ova examination. Total leukocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts were recorded and NLR was calculated. ELISA antibody cut off titer value of patients with fascioliasis was 10> positive.

Results: We compared neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, eosinophil/lymphocyte ratio, the relation of eosinophilia and IgG antibody titers between two groups (patient and control groups). There was no statistically significant difference between patients and healthy controls neither based on age and gender nor NLR. According to these findings, NLR can not be considered as a diagnostic marker in fascioliasis.

Conclusion: As a result, it was determined that NLR is not a crucial indicator of inflammation in parasitic fascioliasis. Extensive studies are need to be done to clarify the correlation between NLR and progression of other parasitic diseases.