Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39586958›Full record

ArticleInfection2025

Importance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a marker for microbiological specimens in critically ill patients after liver or lung transplantation.

Steffen B Wiegand, Michael Paal, Jette Jung, Markus Guba, Christian M Lange, Christian Schneider, Nikolaus Kneidinger, Sebastian Michel, Michael Irlbeck, Michael Zoller

Abstract read
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Article in Infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Steffen B WiegandDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. wiegand.steffen@mh-hannover.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8146-0329
Michael PaalInstitute of Laboratory Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jette JungDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Max-Von-Pettenkofer Institute, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Markus GubaDepartment of General-, Visceral- and Transplant Surgery, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
Christian M LangeDepartment of Internal Medicine II, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
Christian SchneiderDivision of Thoracic Surgery, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
Nikolaus KneidingerComprehensive Pneumology Center Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.
Sebastian MichelComprehensive Pneumology Center Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.
Michael IrlbeckDepartment of Anaesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Michael ZollerDepartment of Anaesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe correct and early diagnosis of an infection is pivotal for patients, especially if the patients are immunocompromised. Various infection markers are used in clinics with different advantages and disadvantages. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a cost effective parameter easily obtained without further investments. The aim of this study is to elucidate the value of the NLR in comparison to other established inflammation markers in patients in the intensive care unit who underwent liver or lung transplantation for the detection of bacterial and fungal specimens.

methodsIn this retrospective single centre study infection marker and microbiology data of 543 intensive care cases of liver or lung transplanted patients in the intensive care unit after transplantation were analysed.

resultsIn total 5,072 lab work results and 1,104 positive microbiology results were analysed. Results of an area under curve analysis were better for the NLR (0.631; p < 0.001) than for CRP (0.522; p = 0.152) or IL-6 (0.579; p < 0.001). The NLR was independent of type of organ which was transplanted and gender of patients, whereas IL-6 values differed significantly between liver and lung transplanted patients and between male and female.

conclusionAll analysed inflammation markers are far from being perfect. The NLR is a sensitive marker with reasonable threshold for the detection of microbiological specimens independent of gender or type of organ transplanted. The use allows a more differentiated approach to face the challenge of bacteria and fungus in patients who underwent liver or lung transplantation.

Indexed as

Bacterial InfectionsLiver TransplantationLung TransplantationLymphocytesNeutrophilsAdultAgedBiomarkersCritical IllnessFemaleHumansIntensive Care UnitsLeukocyte CountMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesBiomarkersIL-6InfectionIntensive care medicineLiver transplantationLung transplantationNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

Identifiers

PMID39586958
PMCPMC11971184

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