Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), which is an autosomal recessive disease, is characterised by recurrent febrile episodes in association with peritonitis, pleuritis and arthritis and has ongoing subclinical inflammation during attack-free period. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between FMF with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is determined in many chronic inflammations as a new potential inflammatory mediator. We included 62 patients and 41 healthy subjects who were similar in terms of age and sex. We found that the NLR values of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group, and C-reactive protein values were correlated with NLR. Another finding was the NLR values were significantly higher in the FMF patient with M694V mutation than with other mutations. As a result, NLR might be used in the FMF patient as an indicator of the subclinical inflammation, and the FMF patients with M694V mutation should be followed up closely because of increased subclinical inflammation risk.

According to our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the relationship between NLR, which is an inflammatory marker, and DR and its severity. Our results suggest that while evaluating diabetes patients in terms of DR, higher NLR values may be a remarkable marker.

Background: The aims of this study were to investigate the utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a simple and readily available predictor for clinical disease activity in infl ammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Sixty-six patients (22 CD, 44 UC) and 41 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and complete blood count (CBC) were measured. The neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were recorded and NLR was calculated. The patients with active or inactive UC and CD were classifi ed according to the severity of the disease. Result: The serum NLR values of active CD patients were signifi cantly higher than those of inactive ones and controls (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). NLR values of active UC patients were signifi cantly higher than those of inactive ones and controls (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively. The optimum NLR cut-off point for active CD and UC was 3.2 and 3.1. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that NLR in subjects with IBD is strongly associated with active disease and correlated with clinical and laboratory indices (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 31). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. AzabB, Zaher M, Weiserbs KF, Torbey E, Lacossiere K, Gaddam S et al. Usefulness of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in predicting short and long term mortality after non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol 2010; 106: 470-476. 31. Zahorec R. Ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte count -rapid and simple parameter of systemic infl ammation and stress in critically ill. Bratisl Med J 2001; 102 (1): 5 -14.

Elaboration of clinical models of inflammation-induced atherogenesis may further advance our knowledge of multiple inflammatory pathways implicated in atherogenesis and provide a useful tool for cardiovascular prevention. We believe that the atherogenic index also be used as a preliminary indication of accelerated atherosclerosis in FMF. However, large-scale prospective studies on this issue are needed.

Objective:To examine the occurrence frequency of auto-antibodies and autoimmune diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.Methods:A total of 67 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and 77 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection based on HBs Ag, Anti HCV, HBe Ag, Anti HBe Ag, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, liver ultrasound, and liver biopsy results as well as 48 healthy individuals were included in this study. ANA, anti dsDNA, anti LKM, Anti-SMA, AMA, C-ANCA, P-ANCA, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-Scl-70, anti Jo-1, anti-U1snRNP, anti-centromere, anti-Jo-1, anti tpo, and anti tg were studied in all individuals in each study group.Results:ANA positivity was detected in 8 (12%), 15 (19%) and 2 (4%) individuals in HBV, HCV and control groups, respectively. The difference between the groups was significant (P=0.04). Similarly, anti Tg was positive in one subject in HBV group, in 6 subjects (7%) in HCV group, and in one subject among controls, the difference being significant (P=0.04). There were no significant differences between the study groups in the frequency of other auto-antibodies.Conclusion:Similar to studies involving patients who received interferon and/or antiviral agents, an increased frequency of auto-antibodies was also detected in our patient group consisting of interferon and anti-viral naive subjects. The increase in the frequency of auto-antibodies reached statistical significance among individuals with HCV infection. Thus, pre-treatment assessment of auto-antibodies in newly diagnosed cases of chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection may provide beneficial information on the future occurrence of auto-immune responses in these patients.