Assessment of New Inflammatory Indexes in Systemic Sclerosis with Interstitial Lung Disease

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease. The most significant and prevalent complication of SSc is interstitial lung disease (ILD). It is difficult to monitor disease activity. In outpatient clinic conditions, C-reactive protein remains nonspecific and specific methods such as the European Scleroderma Trials and Research group take a long time. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of new inflammation markers obtained from blood parameters, which is a rapid and inexpensive method, in SSc patients with ILD.

A total of 53 patients with SSc and 54 healthy subjects were included in this retrospective crosssectional study.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and pan-immune-inflammation values (PIV) were found to be higher in the patient group than in the control group. The lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) value was significantly lower in the patient group. Besides, these patients with ILD had significantly higher NLR, PLR, SII, and PIV values. The SIRI values were also high, but not statistically significant. The LMR value was found to be significantly lower. The SIRI values with 66% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity for SSc patients, and SII values with 75% sensitivity and 74.7% specificity for SSc patients with ILD can indicate disease activity.

The novel indices may prove superior to rudimentary indices by virtue of their capacity to more accurately reflect inflammatory activity in inflammatory connective tissue diseases, particularly those accompanied by fibrotic lung involvement. These indices have the potential to serve as a cost-effective predictive instrument.