Effects of buprenorphine–naloxone treatment on inflammatory markers in patients with opioid use disorder

Background Inflammatory processes have gained increasing attention in the pathophysiology of opioid use disorder (OUD). This study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in systemic inflammatory markers among patients with OUD receiving buprenorphine – naloxone (B/N) treatment over a six-month period.Methods In this retrospective chart review, 36 patients diagnosed with OUD who initiated B/N treatment were evaluated. Inflammatory indices – including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and mean platelet volume (MPV) – were calculated from complete blood count parameters obtained at treatment initiation and at the sixth-month follow-up.Results Participants had a mean age of 26.5 ± 6.86 years and 83.3% were male. After six months of B/N treatment, significant reductions were observed in NLR (p = 0.011), SII (p = 0.003), and neutrophil count (p = 0.004). PLR showed a decreasing trend but did not remain significant after multiple comparison adjustment. No significant changes were found in MLR, MPV, lymphocyte count, or platelet count. Subgroup analyses showed no significant differences according to smoking, alcohol use, or sociodemographic variables.Conclusions Six months of B/N treatment was associated with reductions in several systemic inflammatory markers in patients with OUD, suggesting that B/N therapy may help modulate inflammatory processes in addition to its clinical benefits.