Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio: a novel marker for critical limb ischemia in peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 7; p. e67688
• Main Authors: Gary, Thomas, Pichler, Martin, Belaj, Klara, Hafner, Franz, Gerger, Armin, Froehlich, Harald, Eller, Philipp, Rief, Peter, Hackl, Gerald, Pilger, Ernst, Brodmann, Marianne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.07.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Biological markers; Biomarkers - analysis; Blood; Blood platelets; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Blood Platelets - pathology; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Data analysis; Diabetes; Extremities - blood supply; Extremities - pathology; Female; Fibrinogen; Fibrinogen - metabolism; Health risks; Humans; Inflammation; Internal medicine; Ischemia; Ischemia - blood; Ischemia - pathology; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Mathematical analysis; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Middle Aged; Mortality; Myocardial infarction; Neutrophils; Patients; Peripheral Arterial Disease - blood; Peripheral Arterial Disease - pathology; Peripheral vascular diseases; Platelet Count; Platelets; Risk analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Thrombosis; Vascular surgery; Austria
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067688

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) is an easily applicable blood test. An elevated PLR has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with different oncologic disorder. As platelets play a key role in atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis, we investigated PLR and its association with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and other vascular endpoints in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) patients. We evaluated 2121 PAOD patients treated at our institution from 2005 to 2010. PLR was calculated and the cohort was categorized into tertiles according to the PLR. An optimal cut-off value for the continuous PLR was calculated by applying a receiver operating curve analysis to discriminate between CLI and non-CLI. In our cohort occurrence of CLI significantly increased with an increase in PLR. As an optimal cut-off value, a PLR of 150 was identified. Two groups were categorized, one containing 1228 patients (PLR≤150) and a second group with 893 patients (PLR>150). CLI was more frequent in PLR>150 patients (410(45.9%)) compared to PLR≤150 patients (270(22.0%)) (p<0.001), as was prior myocardial infarction (51(5.7%) vs. 42(3.5%), p = 0.02). Regarding inflammatory parameters, C-reactive protein (median 7.0 mg/l (3.0-24.25) vs. median 5.0 mg/l (2.0-10.0)) and fibrinogen (median 457 mg/dl (359.0-583.0) vs. 372 mg/dl (317.25-455.75)) also significantly differed in the two patient groups (both p<0.001). Finally, a PLR>150 was associated with an OR of 1.9 (95%CI 1.7-2.1) for CLI even after adjustment for other well-established vascular risk factors. An increased PLR is significantly associated with patients at high risk for CLI and other cardiovascular endpoints. The PLR is a broadly available and cheap marker, which could be used to highlight patients at high risk for vascular endpoints.