ASH 2021 | Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts thrombotic risk in polycythemia vera
A pro-inflammatory state, resulting from immune cell activation linked to JAK2 mutation, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel inflammatory marker under investigation in MPNs. Given its association with severity and prognosis of cardiovascular disease, its link with the occurrence of arterial and venous thrombosis in polycythemia vera (PV) was investigated. Tiziano Barbui, MD, Bergamo Hospital Research Foundation, Bergamo, Italy, shares the findings from an analysis of 169 thrombotic events occurring in 1508 patients with a median follow-up of 2.76 years. No associated between NLR and arterial events was found. However, NLR was identified as an independent risk factor for venous thrombosis. These findings indicate that NLR could be used in a scoring system to predict thrombotic risk. Research is ongoing to investigate the relationship between NLR and JAK2 mutant allele burden. This interview took place at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition congress in Atlanta, GA.
