Dynamics of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can be associated with clinical outcomes of children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: A retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be associated with clinical outcomes of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the dynamics of NLR and clinical outcomes of pediatric patients with moderate to severe TBI.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data of a total of 374 pediatric patients with moder-ate to severe TBI who were treated in our department between May 2016 and May 2020. Clinical and laboratory data including the NLR upon admission and the NLR on hospital day four were collected. Poor clinical outcome was defined as Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of 1-3. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between the dynamics of NLR and clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-four pediatric patients (mean age 7.37 ± 3.11, 52.7% male) were evaluated. Based on the ROC curves, a value of 5 was determined as the NLR cut-off value. The corresponding cutoff value for delta NLR was 1. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (OR, 3.42; 95% CI: 1.88-5.28; P <0.001), the light reflex (OR, 1.79; 95% CI: 1.34- 2.84; P = 0.027), the Rotterdam CT score (OR, 2.71; 95% CI: 1.72-4.13; P = 0.021), and delta NLR (OR, 1.71; 95% CI: 1.13- 2.52; P = 0.034) were identified as independent predictors for unfavorable outcomes in multivariable logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The result of the present study suggest that delta NLR could be a predictor of poor clinical outcome of pediatrics with moderate to severe TBI. This cost-effective and easily available biomarker could be used to predict clinical outcomes in these patients.