The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio as a marker of recovery status in patients with severe dental infection

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the value of pretreatment neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio and mean platelet volume (MPV) and the correlation between these markers with progression in patients with severe odontogenic infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort of 100 patients with severe odontogenic infection were divided into 2 groups according to their length of hospital stay. The N/L ratio and MPV was measured in all patients. The correlation in all patients between preoperative fever, preoperative antibiotic doses, postoperative antibiotic doses, total antibiotic doses and hospital stay with N/L ratio and MPV were analyzed. The Youden index was used to identify the optimal cut-off value. RESULTS: There were positive and statistically significant correlations between N/L ratio and prolonged hospital stay and postoperative antibiotic doses and total antibiotic doses. The optimum cut –off level of N/L ratio was 5.19 according to ROC analysis. However, there was no correlation between MPV and any of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: N/L ratio may be used as a prognostic marker for patients with odontogenic infections. These patients may need a higher dose of antibiotics and stay more than 1 day in hospital for the treatment of odontogenic infection when the N/L ratio is detected to be more than 5.19. Key words:Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, odontogenic infection.