Normal Range of Neutrophile to Lymphocyte Ratio in Healthy, Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4 - 5 and Hemodialysis Participant in a Sub-Saharan African Context

Background: Neutrophile to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a well-established marker of inflammation. It has been reported to be high in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and it is described as a prognosis factor in hemodialysis patients. However, limited data are available about the normal range of NLR in healthy adults as well as CKD patients including hemodialysis black Africans in Sub-Saharan countries. We sought to study NLR in healthy and advanced CKD in a single Cameroonian health facility. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from blood donors, CKD stage 4 and non-dialysis stage 5, and hemodialysis patients for more than 6 months. Patients with confounding factors such as positive CRP, infection, and recent use of steroids were excluded. RNL means standard deviations (SDs), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined. RNL range was defined as percentiles P2.5 to P97.5. Results: A total of 102 participants were included. Mean age was 40.45 ± 9.97 years and 58.8% were male. Age and sex distribution were similar in the three groups. Leucopenia and neutropenia were common in all the groups. Means NLR was 1.29 ± 0.57 (95% CI 1.08 - 1.49) range between 0.55 to 2.67; 2.31 ± 1.3 (95% CI 1.75 - 2.88) with range between 0.69 to 4.31 and 2.14 ± 0.98 (95% CI 1.85 - 2.44) with range between 0.77 to 4.32 respectively in controls, CKD, and hemodialysis participants. NLR was comparable in CKD and hemodialysis patients (p = 0.99). Compared to controls, NLR was significantly elevated in CKD (p = 0.043) and hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the normal range for NLR in adult nongeriatric healthy and advanced CKD patients including those on chronic hemodialysis may vary between 0.55 to 2.67 and 0.69 to 4.32 respectively.