ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.MethodsThe consecutive inpatients with acute ischemic stroke were prospectively enrolled.Gradient echo-T2*-weighted imaging was used to evaluate CMBs and their quantity.Univariate analysis was used to compare the baseline data between the CMB group and the non-CMB group.Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent correlation between NLR and CMBs.ResultsA total of 218 patients with acute ischemic stroke were prospectively enrolled, including 66 (30.3%) with CMBs.The age (64.7±6.6 years vs.66.9±8.6 years;t=2.052, P=0.041), high sensitive C-reactive protein (7.0[2.3-13.9] mg/L vs.8.9[4.0-28.1] mg/L;Z=2.008, P=0.045) and NLR (1.9[1.4-2.9] vs.2.3[1.7-3.6];Z=2.071, P=0.038) in the non-CMB group were significantly lower than those of the CMB group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR (odds ratio 1.276, 95% confidence interval 1.008-1.670;P=0.045) and age (odds ratio 1.044, 95% confidence interval 1.002-1.087;P=0.040) were the independent risk factor for CMBs.Spearman correlation analysis showed that NLR was significantly positively correlated with the severity of CMBs (r=0.210, P=0.007).ConclusionsIn patients with acute ischemic stroke, NLR was associated with CMBs and their severity, suggesting that inflammatory reaction might be involved in the occurrence of CMBs.