Assessment of the Relationship Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Dyspeptic Symptoms in Patients With Peptic Ulcer Diagnosed by Endoscopy and Patients Without Peptic Ulcer

Introduction: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple, inexpensive, and effective biomarker associated with various inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, has become the focus of attention in recent years. Nevertheless, it has not been adequately studied in dyspeptic patients with peptic ulcer (PU) and without PU, i.e., patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Materials and methods: The population of this retrospective study consisted of patients with dyspeptic complaints who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy between April 2023 and June 2023. A total of 180 patients included in the study sample were categorized into two groups based on the endoscopy results: patients without PU or NUD patients (Group 1) and those with PU (Group 2). Age, gender and pre-procedural NLR data, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy results, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in endoscopic biopsy information were recorded for all patients. Results: Of the 180 patients, 140 were diagnosed with NUD (Group 1), and 40 were diagnosed with PU (Group 2). There was a significant difference between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of NLR (Group 1: 2.5±1.8 vs. Group 2: 3.6±3.7, p=0.014). There was also a significant difference in NLR between Group 1 and Group Gastric Ulcer (p=0.030) but not between Group 1 and Group Duodenal Ulcer (p=0.064). Rates of patients with positive Hp test results were 25% and 32.5% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, indicating a significant difference between the groups (p=0.026). Conclusion: The NLR measured in patients who presented with dyspeptic complaints was found to be significantly higher in PU patients than in NUD patients. The elevated NLR levels were even more evident in PU patients with GU compared to PU patients with DU.