The evaluation of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio in anorectal abscess.

Background: Anorectal abscess (ARA) is a commonly observed surgical situation. Our aim is to evaluate neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in ARA.

Methods: From January 2014 to March 2019, patients diagnosed with ARA were retrospectively analysed, and a patient group was formed. Healthy individuals were included in this study as a control group. The demographic characteristics, completed blood count (CBC) and c-reactive protein (CRP) values of patients were analysed. Localisation of abscess in patients was assessed using computed tomography results. From CBC parameters, white blood count (WBC), NLR and PLR values were identified. The cut-off values for data, sensitivity and specificity were identified using the receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses.

Results: In the patient group, WBC, CRP, NLR and PLR values were identified to be statistically significantly increased (p<0.001). When supralevator abscess localisation was compared with other ARA localisations, there was a statistically significant difference for WBC (p=0.003), but no statistically significant differences were identified for CRP, NLR and PLR (p>0.05). ROC analysis found WBC had cut-off value of 9.99 103/μL for ARA diagnosis with 95% sensitivity and 95% specificity, a CRP had 2.5 mg/dL cut-off value with 88% sensitivity and 95% specificity, NLR had a cut-off of 3.96 with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 95% and PLR had a cut-off value of 112.84 with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 68%.

Conclusion: We believe NLR may be used as a helpful diagnostic marker for ARA diagnosis; however, PLR has low sensitivity and specificity.