Predictive value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for the presence of coronary artery ectasia in patients with aortic aneurysms

BACKGROUND: Both aortic aneurysms and coronary artery ectasia (CAE) frequently coexist and are associated with more pronounced inflammation. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NL ratio) is widely used as a marker of inflammation. However, relation between CAE and NL ratio in patients with aortic aneurysms is not fully understood. This study was undertaken to assess relation between CAE and NL ratio in patients with aortic aneurysms. METHODS: This study consisted of 93 consecutive patients with aortic aneurysms (AA group) and 79 patients without aortic aneurysms who had angiographically normal coronary arteries as the control group. Moreover, patients with aortic aneurysms were classified into two groups based on the presence of CAE; CAE (+) group (n = 44) and CAE (−) group (n = 49). We compared blood chemical parameters in both groups. RESULTS: In the AA group, 44 patients (47.3%) had CAE. The AA group had a significantly higher NL ratio than the control group (2.93 ± 1.43 vs. 2.45 ± 1.05, p = 0.027). Furthermore, the CAE (+) group had a significantly higher NL ratio than the CAE (−) group (3.39 ± 1.67 vs. 2.52 ± 1.04, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the high NL ratio was an independent predictor for CAE in patients with aortic aneurysms (odds ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.24–2.69, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with aortic aneurysms had a significantly higher NL ratio than those without aortic aneurysms. Furthermore, the NL ratio might predict the presence of CAE in patients with aortic aneurysms.