Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can risk stratify patients in transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR).

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratios (PLR) mark systemic inflammation. Patients with high NLR and PLR have worse cardiovascular disease and outcomes. We assessed the role of these ratios in predicting outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

METHODS: The association between NLR and PLR with baseline characteristics, 30-day outcomes, and 1-year readmission/survival was determined in patients that underwent TAVR between 2007 and 2014 and had baseline complete blood count with differential. A subgroup analysis determined the association between change in NLR and PLR (discharge-baseline) and 1-year outcomes.

RESULTS: In 520 patients that underwent TAVR, a higher NLR (p=0.01) and PLR (p=0.02) were associated with a higher STS-PROM score, and with increased occurrence of the 30-day early-safety outcome (by VARC-2), even after adjusting for STS-PROM score, valve generation (Sapien vs. Sapien XT), and access (transfemoral vs. non-transfemoral) (NLR: OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.61; PLR: OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01-1.60) but not with 1-year readmission or survival. In our subgroup analysis (N=294), change in PLR was not associated with the 1-year outcomes but a high change in NLR was associated with worse 1-year survival/readmission and 1-year survival, even after adjusting for STS-PROM score, valve generation and access (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.44 and HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.99-1.6, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: NLR and PLR correlate with surgical risk. An elevated NLR and PLR were associated with the occurrence of 30-day adverse outcomes, similar to the STS-PROM score. A high variation of NLR from baseline to discharge may help stratify patients that underwent TAVR in addition to traditional risk factors.