Red blood cell distribution width and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio are positively correlated with disease activity in primary Sjögren's syndrome

• RDW and NLR are inflammation related indices.
• RDW and NLR were increased in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
• RDW and NLR were positively correlated with SSDAI.

ObjectiveThe red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are increased in various inflammation related diseases, but their clinical significance in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical significance of RDW and NLR in pSS patients.MethodsThe medical records of pSS patients who were admitted to Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University between April 2012 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Correlations between RDW, NLR and the patient clinical characteristics were analyzed using the Spearman approach and the multiple linear regression model.ResultsFifty-two pSS patients and 58 healthy controls were enrolled. RDW and NLR were increased in pSS patients and positively correlated with the Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index (SSDAI).ConclusionRDW and NLR may prove to be useful indices to estimate pSS disease activity.