World J Depress Anxiety | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Review Article | Open Access

A Review of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte, MonocyteLymphocyte, and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratios Use in Psychiatric Disorders

Mario Gennaro Mazza*, Aurora Rossetti, Massimo Clerici

Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Italy

*Correspondance to: Mario Gennaro Mazza 

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Abstract

The immune and inflammatory system is involved in the etiology of mood disorders. Neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) are inexpensive and reproducible biomarkers of inflammation. We reviewed the literature investigating the possible utility of the inflammatory ratios in psychiatric disorders. We searched PubMed, Science Direct, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library electronic databases for articles up to July 2018, with no language restrictions combining the following keywords: (“psychosis” OR “psychotic” OR “schizophrenia” OR “FEP” OR “bipolar” OR “mania” OR “manic” OR “depressive” OR “psychiatric”) AND (“lymphocyte” OR “platelet” OR “neutrophil” OR “monocyte”). We found higher NLR, PLR, and MLR in bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia when compared to healthy controls. Association of inflammatory ratios with the severity of disorders and with psychopharmacological treatment was also analyzed with inconsistent results. It seems that NLR, PLR, and MLR may be useful to detect inflammatory activation that occurs in psychiatric disorders but more researches are needed to better understand the utility and the role of these inflammatory ratios.

Keywords:

Bipolar disorder; Major depressive disorder; Psychosis; FEP; Schizophrenia; Alzheimer; ADHD; Heroin dependence; Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; Platelet to lymphocyte ratio; Monocyte to lymphocyte ratio; Inflammation

Citation:

Mazza MG, Rossetti A, Clerici M. A Review of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte, Monocyte-Lymphocyte, and PlateletLymphocyte Ratios Use in Psychiatric Disorders. World J Depress Anxiety. 2018; 1(1): 1002.

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