The relationship between neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and the TIMI flow grade in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI

OBJECTIVES: ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is an important cause of the morbidity and mortality in coronary artery disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between hematologic parameters and post primary PCI coronary no-reflow. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 145 consecutive STEMI patients (mean age=58.2+/-12.3 years) and healthy volunteer admitted within 6 hours from symptom onset were enrolled to the study in the cardiology clinics. The STEMI patients were divided into 2 groups based on the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade. No-reflow was defined as post-PCI TIMI Flow Grade 0, 1 or 2 and angiographic success was defined as TIMI Grade 3 Flow. RESULTS: Diabetes mellitus hypertension and smoking status were similar between groups. With respect to baseline laboratory status, fasting glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine levels were not significantly different between groups. The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio was also significantly higher in STEMI group (7.1+/-4.6 vs. 2.3+/-1.7, p < 0.001). Additionally, N/L ratio was also significantly higher in No-reflow group (TIMI Flow Grade 0, 1 or 2) group (13.1+/-4.5 vs. 5.3+/-2.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The N/L ratio, which is cheaply and easily measurable laboratory data is independently associated with post primary PCI coronary no-reflow.