A hematologic index derived from a full blood count detecting inflammatory biomarkers may be effective in the early diagnosis of patients with immunological diseases, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis published by Mangoni and Zinellu in Clinical and Experimental Medicine. Investigators used Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify 16 studies utilizing the systemic inflammation index—which detects inflammatory cells in the blood—to evaluate patients with immunological diseases and controls. The investigators discovered that the systemic inflammation index was higher among the patients with immunological diseases vs controls (standard mean deviation [SMD] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.75–1.41) and among those with active disease vs those in remission (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.34–1.27)—with a pooled area under the curve for diagnostic accuracy of 0.85 (95% CI = 0.82–0.88) and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.70–0.78), respectively. Further, the relationship between the index and different types of immunological diseases was found to be significant (excluding systemic lupus erythematosus). The investigators emphasized that prospective studies may be needed to better understand whether the systemic inflammation index can be incorporated into the routine diagnosis of immunological diseases. In a companion press release on the findings from Flinders University, the study authors concluded: “Our study … confirms that it is very likely that the [systemic inflammation index] is superior to currently available biomarkers and could be routinely used in clinical practice to optimally diagnose and manage patients with immunological diseases.”
April 17, 2024