An evaluation of platelet parameters and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios in children with acute rheumatic fever

INTRODUCTION: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an inflammatory disease developing as a response to group A streptococcal infection. Platelet parameters and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) have been used as markers of inflammation severity in various inflammatory diseases in recent years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate platelet parameters and NLRs of patients with a diagnosis of ARF and under monitoring by our clinic, and to compare these with a healthy control group.
METHODS: Fifty patients diagnosed with ARF (37 carditic and 13 non-carditic) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy children were included in the study. Cases’ demographic characteristics, complete blood count values, acute phase reactants, and transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) findings were recorded.
RESULTS: NLR, and leukocyte, neutrophil, and platelet numbers were statistically significantly higher in the ARF group than in the control group(p<0.001), while hemoglobin, lymphocyte, and mean platelet volume (MPV) values were significantly lower (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference in MPV, plateletcrit (PCT) or NLR values was observed between the ARF subgroups with and without carditis. Platelet distribution width (PDW) was significantly higher in the ARF patients with carditis(p=0.003). Correlation analysis revealed that platelet count was positively correlated with leukocyte and neutrophil numbers, MPV was negatively correlated with leukocyte numbers, and PCT was significantly positively correlated with leukocyte and neutrophil numbers. PDW exhibited negative correlation with lymphocyte count and positive correlation with NLR.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: MPV values were significantly low and NLR values significantly high in patients with ARF. We therefore think that these parameters can be used as markers in patients diagnosed with ARF