Mean platelet volume to lymphocyte ratio as a novel marker for diabetic nephropathy

Objective: To compare mean platelet volume to lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR) of diabetic nephropathy subjects to those diabetics without diabetic nephropathy. Study Design: Observational, cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Tertiary referral hospital, in Bolu, Turkey, from July to December 2017. Methodology: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to the Internal Medicine Clinic, were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to the urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio: diabetic nephropathy and non-nephropathy group. MPVLR was calculated mathematically by division of MPV by lymphocyte count. Results: There were 162 subjects (79 females, 83 males). The MPVLR in patients with diabetic nephropathy and non-nephropathic diabetic groups were 4.1 (2.09-11.84) and 3.4 (1.37-25.56), respectively. The difference was reached statistically significant level (p<0.001). The best cut-off value for MPVLR was 3.66 (AUC=0.733, p<0.001); MPVLR predicted diabetic nephropathy with 71.1% sensitivity and 67.4% specificity, at this level. Conclusion: The MPVLR is an easily calculated and efficient index that can be considered a powerful and independent predictor of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic patients. We suggest that, it can be useful adjunct to standard tests in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.