Reading between the lines – complete blood count parameters as prognostic factors in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Numerous research proved the prognostic significance of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio (LMR), Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) in few hematological malignancies. This retrospective cohort study conducted on a group of 204 patients aimed to analyze the role of NLR, LMR, PLR and RDW as markers of prognosis in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Initial NLR, RDW-CV were on average higher and LMR, PLR lower within dead patients compared to patients alive at 36 month of observation, MD = 0.29 CI95 [0.01;0.48], p = 0.035; MD = 1.50 CI95 [0.80;2.70], p = 0.001; MD = -0.71 CI95 [-1.69;-0.25], p = 0.001; MD = -16.92 CI95 [-25.25;-3.03], p = 0.004, respectively. Additionally, NLR, RDW-CV and RDW-SD were higher, and LMR lower on average within patients not responding to therapy compared with patients with any response, MD = 0.34 CI95 [0.08;0.49], p = 0.005; MD = 2.00 CI95 [1.10;2.60], p < 0.00; MD = 3.75 CI95 [0.10;6.70], p = 0.043; MD = -0.34 CI95 [-0.91;-0.05], p = 0.015, respectively. Higher NLR, RDW-CV, RDW-SD and lower LMR, PLR are poor prognostic factors, that may help risk-stratify patients with AML.