The utility of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting urolithiasis in acute abdominal pain accompanied by flank pain

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 369 - 374, 04.03.2019

Feride Sinem Akgün , Orhun Sinanoğlu

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.431227

Abstract

Objectives:
To evaluate whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte
ratio (NLR), can differentiate between urinary stone disease and inflammatory
conditions in patients admitted to emergency department having acute abdominal
pain accompanied by flank pain.

Methods: Data of 191 patients with acute abdominal pain accompanied by flank pain
admitted to emergency department in a single institution during 1 year period
was retrospectively reviewed. Complete blood count and urine analysis were
evaluated, the definitive diagnosis was established radiologically. The NLR was
calculated as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the absolute lymphocyte
count. The cut off value for the NLR in relation to stone status was
calculated.

Results: Of the 191 patients 51.3% (n = 98) were males, 48.7% (n = 93) were females
(p > 0.05). White blood counts of
the patients according to the presence of stone does not show a statistically
significant difference (p > 0.05).
NLR measurement of patients according to the presence of stone shows a
statistically significant difference (p
= 0.009). NLR of patients with urinary stones were significantly lower than
patients without urinary stones. NLR measurements did not differ significantly
according to stone location. A cut-off point of ≤ 2.16 for the NLR was
determined according to the stone status of the patients. NLR values were
higher in patients with acute abdominal pain/flank pain due to inflammatory
pathologies.

Conclusion: As the
diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis take long time and require elaborate
methods, NLR may be used as a simple method in the differential diagnosis of
pain due to urinary stone disease or inflammatory condition. 

Keywords

Acute abdominal pain, emergency medicine, flank pain, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), urolithiasis

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