Elevated Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Adolescents with Early-onset Schizophrenia

Inflammation plays a substantial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a cost-effective and simple indicator of inflammation, which it is widely used as a proxy of systemic inflammation. In this retrospective study, we investigated the relationship between NLR and early-onset schizophrenia. Hematologic parameters and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores were obtained from the medical records of 32 patients. NLR values and hematologic parameters were compared with 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The mean NLR was significantly higher in patients than in controls. The neutrophil count was significantly higher in the patient group; however, leukocyte, haemoglobin, lymphocyte, and platelet counts did not differ between groups. No significant correlation was found between PANSS scores and NLR in the patient group. Our findings suggest that elevated NLR is an inflammation biomarker that plays a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.