ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the occurrence of rebleeding in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is poorly understood. Our study aimed to investigate the association between NLR on admission and rebleeding following aSAH. METHODS: Clinical and laboratorial data from patients with aSAH were retrospectively collected, including leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and NLR. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess for the association of NLR with rebleeding. We performed propensity-score matching analyses to correct imbalances in patient characteristics between the rebleeding group and nonrebleeding group. RESULTS: Rebleeding occurred in 30 of 716 (4.19%) patients with aSAH in this cohort. Patients with rebleeding had significantly higher NLR comparing with patients without rebleeding (11.27 vs. 5.5; P < 0.05) in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, NLR was considered as a risk factor of rebleeding (odds ratio, 0.283; 95% confidence interval, 0.130-0.620; P = 0.002), as well as Fisher grade (odds ratio, 0.353, 95% confidence interval, 0.151-0.824; P = 0.016). The area under the curve of the NLR and combined NLR-Fisher grade model was 0.702 and 0.744 (sensitivity was 39.94%, and specificity was 100%) for predicting rebleeding, respectively. After propensity-score matching, the optimal cutoff value for NLR as a predictor for rebleeding following aSAH was determined as 5.4 (sensitivity was 83.33%, and the specificity was 63.33%). CONCLUSIONS: Higher NLR predicts the occurrence of rebleeding and poor outcome, and NLR combined with Fisher grade significantly improves the prediction of rebleeding following aSAH.