Association of neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, platelet–lymphocyte ratio and monocyte‐to‐high‐density lipoprotein ratio with diabetic nephropathy

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between albuminuria and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and monocyte-to-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR). Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis, aged over 18, had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/dk/1.73 m2 included. Patients were divided into groups according to ACR values: <30 mg/g (group 1), 30-300 mg/g (group 2) and >300 mg/g (group 3). We examined whether there was a significant difference in NLR, PLR, and MHR among the three groups. A total of 360 patients were included in the study. NLR was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1 (p = 0.016). There was no significant difference in PLR or MHR among the three groups (p = 0.312 and p = 0.687, respectively). A significant difference was detected in NLR in comparison between the groups with and without diabetic nephropathy, but there was no significant difference in PLR or MHR (p = 0.028; p = 0.950 and p = 0.389, respectively). NLR correlated with creatinine and ACR (r: 0.166, p = 0.002; r: 0.144, p = 0.006, respectively). MHR correlated positively with creatinine (r: 0.25.3, p = 0.016, respectively). NLR was significantly higher in the diabetic nephropathy group than in the non-diabetic nephropathy group. This may suggest that NLR can be used as a prognostic marker in diabetic nephropathy. Although there was no significant relationship between MHR and albuminuria, MHR positively correlated with creatinine and negatively correlated with eGFR. Therefore, MHR may be useful in monitoring the development and progression of chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients rather than in the early stages. However, further studies are needed.