Could neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio be an important parameter in children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder?

Abstract

Objective: The number of studies that suggest the possible role of immune abnormalities in the pathogenesisof obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) are increasing.Our aim here is to determine the relationship betweenneutrophil lymphocyte ratio(NLR) and children and adolescents with OCD.NLR and platelet lymphocyteratio(PLR) are new, inexpensive, easily reproducible indicators used for the determination of low grade inflammation. Method: In this study, retrospective records of32 children and adolescents with OCD were screened,and the NLR, PLR,monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR) dataobtained from the pre-treatment complete blood countwere compared with the same data of the healthycontrol group with similar characteristics. Results: TheNLR was found lower in children and adolescents withOCD compared to the control group; yet PLR and MLRwere not significantly different. Discussion:Inflammation might play a role in the etiopahogenesis ofOCD. The NLR may be potential inlammation markers forOCD in children.