Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome (OSA) is the most serious consequence of adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and it is one of the most common reasons of nocturnal hypoxia in children. There is some information about the relationship between childhood OSA and atherosclerosis or cardiac diseases. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and AH which is the most frequent cause leading OSA in children. AIM: Thus we aimed to contribute about subject of preoperative and postoperative NLR values in patients undergoing adenoidectomy that there is limited information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised 76 children undergoing adenoidectomy. A preoperative and 3(rd)-month postoperative complete blood cell count was performed to calculate the NLR values in all patients. The NLR values were calculated as the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 15. RESULTS: The mean NLR (min - max) was 1.0 (0.16-3.57) preoperatively and 1.06 (0.35-4.95) 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.052> 0.05). Haemoglobin 12.9 ± 0.95 (preop) 12.94 ± 0.91 (postop) (p= 0.522), WBC (min-max) 7.75 (3.90-14.99) 7.8 (4-15.64) (p= 0.297 <0.005), platelet 344.5 ± 98.7 328.4 ± 68.9 (p<0,005). CONCLUSION: There is limited information in the English literature. This study has investigated the association between the NLR and adenoidectomy. The results of the present study demonstrate that the NLR is not a statistically significant inflammatory factor. So, NLR values do not appear related to stage of upper airway obstruction.