The usefulness of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio from the bronchoalveolar lavage (BNLR) in the assessment of patients with interstitial lung disease

The present study aims to evaluate the usefulness of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio from the bronchoalveolar lavage (bNLR) in the assessment of local inflammatory status in patients with the stable interstitial lung disease by comparing a group of patients with IPF versus non-IPF patients.A secondary outcome was to see if we can identify values that differentiate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from another interstitial lung disease.Materials and methods: 42 patients with newly diagnosed ILD (24 with IPF and 18 non-IPF) were included; physical examination, high resolution CT, bronchoscopy with lavage, spirometry, DLCO and blood tests were performed in all patients.Results: We did not find any statistically significant difference between bNLR in the two groups IPF versus non IPF.bNLR were similar 2.73 + 1.14 in the non-IPF group and 2.98 ±1.72 in IPF patients, p=0.59.bNLR in patients with chronic stable newly diagnosed inte rstitial lung disease does not seem to bring any additional information.Conclusions: Assessment of local lung inflammation in BAL by the bNLR variable can provide minimal di fferential diagnostic information with higher values in IPF and HP .