Association between neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio and mitral annular calcification

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is closely related to cardiovascular disorders including coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. The clinical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including age, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, are the same for MAC and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an inflammatory marker, in patients with MAC. The study group consisted of 117 patients with MAC. Age and sex-matched control group was composed of 38 patients who were admitted to echocardiography laboratory due to suspicion of organic heart disease and eventually found to be free of MAC. We measured hematological indices in patients and control individuals. NLR ratio was significantly higher in patients with MAC than in control individuals (3.3 ± 1.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.4, respectively; P < 0.001), and NLR ratio was positively correlated with MAC (P < 0.001, r = 0.58). Red cell distribution width was also significantly higher in patients with MAC than in control individuals (16.2 ± 3.3 vs. 13.4 ± 0.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). We have shown that NLR was significantly elevated in patients with MAC and it was correlated with MAC.