Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2018 May;16(2):190-196. 10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.190.

Increased Neutrophil-lymphocyte and Platelet-lymphocyte Ratios in Male Heroin Addicts: A Prospective Controlled Study

• Cıcek E
• Demırel B
• Cıcek IE
• Kıraç AS
• Eren I

• KMID: 2412388
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.190

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are markers that can determine the presence of systemic inflammatory response. In this study, we examined the NLR and PLR levels in patients with heroin dependence compared to healthy controls.
METHODS
The study sample included 90 male patients with heroin dependence aged 18 to 45 years and 60 healthy subjects who had similar socio-demographic characteristics as the patient group. The diagnoses of heroin dependence and other Axis I psychiatric disorders in the patient and control groups were screened with the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (SCID-I). The extent of heroin addiction was assessed with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI).
RESULTS
The mean NLR and PLR levels of patients with heroin dependence were significantly higher than the control subjects (p=0.031 and p < 0.001, respectively). Positive correlations were found between NLR, PLR and duration of the disorder.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that inflammatory processes may play a role in the pathophysiology of heroin dependence.

Keyword

Heroin; Dependency; Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; Platelet-lymphocyte ratio

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Healthy Volunteers
Heroin Dependence
Heroin*
Humans
Male*
Prospective Studies*
Heroin