J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2021 Oct;32(5):394-399.

Correlation between the size of the ureter stone and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein in patients with ureter stone visiting the emergency department

• Jeong WD
• Choi WI
• Jung W
• Park DJ
• Seo YJ
• Lee KS
• Jeon JC

Abstract

Objective
The size and location of ureter stones are important factors in their spontaneous passage. We compared the clinical characteristics and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients who visited the emergency department with ureter stones of ≥5 mm and <5 mm in size.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 699 patients who visited the emergency department of two medical centers from January 2017 to December 2019. We compared microscopic hematuria, pyuria, NLR, PLR, CRP, the grade of hydronephrosis, and the location of ureteral calculi between the two groups.
Results
There were 419 patients with ureter stones less than 5 mm and 280 patients with stones more than 5 mm in size. NLR was 2.82 (1.44-4.73) and 3.12 (1.94-5.75) in patients with stones <5 mm and ≥5 mm, respectively (P=0.001). PLR was 117.2 (88.2-164.9) and 136.0 (98.9-199.7) in patients with stones <5 mm and ≥5 mm, respectively (P=0.001). CRP was 0.29 (0.29-0.29) and 0.29 (0.29-1.04) in patients with stones <5 mm and ≥5 mm, respectively (P<0.001). The proportion of microscopic hematuria was 84.7% and 76.4% in patients with stones <5 mm and ≥5 mm, respectively (P=0.006). The proportion of pyuria was 20.5% and 41.8% in patients with stones <5 mm and ≥5 mm, respectively (P=0.01).
Conclusion
In patients with ureter stones ≥5 mm, CRP, NLR, and PLR were significantly higher than patients with ureter stones <5 mm. However, further studies are needed before using these indicators to make clinical decisions regarding ureteral stone management.

Keyword

Ureteral calculi; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; C-reactive protein