Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and human corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs).
Methods :
A total of 307 eyes from 307 subjects who underwent specular microscopy were included. Corneal endothelial cell density (CECD), hexagonality (HEX), central corneal thickness (CCT), coefficient of variation (CV), and cell area were measured using specular microscopy. Whole blood samples were obtained to measure the complete blood cell count. The NLR was calculated, and its relationship with CEnCs was evaluated.
Results :
CV was positively correlated with the percentage (%) of neutrophils (r = 0.120, p = 0.037) and absolute neutrophil count (r = 0.131, p = 0.022) and negatively correlated with the % of lymphocyte (r = -0.131, p = 0.022). HEX was correlated with the % of neutrophil (r = -0.156, p = 0.006), % of lymphocyte (r = 0.141, p = 0.014), % of basophil (r = 0.142, p = 0.013), NLR (r = -0.129, p = 0.024), and the mean corpuscular volume (r = 0.121, p = 0.035). The prevalence of diabetes did not show a statistically significant correlation with various indicators of corneal endothelial cells.
Conclusions :
CV and HEX, which indicate the stability of CEnCs, are associated with NLR in the peripheral blood, suggesting that systemic inflammation and immunity may implicate the pathology of CEnCs. In addition, glycemic control may affect the corneal endothelial cells rather than the presence of diabetes.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.