Red blood cell - Platelet ratio (RPR) and Hemoglobin - Platelet ratio (HPR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a study at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, resulting in destruction and deformation of bones and cartilage. In addition to causing joint damage, up to 30 - 70% of RA patients have chronic anemia that reduces quality of life. The inflammatory process affects some red blood cell and platelet indices such as increased platelet count, anemia and hypochromic microcytic cells. Red blood cell - platelet ratio (RPR) and hemoglobin - platelet ratio (HPR) are considered as indicators to help assess inflammation and activity level in patients with RA. This study describes hematological characteristics and the relationship of RPR and HPR indices with inflammation in patients with RA. Methods: The study was conducted on 30 patients with RA at the Department of General Internal Medicine - Endocrinology - Musculoskeletal and a control group of 30 healthy people who came to hospital of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy from April 2023 to August 2023. Results: Both RPR and HPR indices in the disease group were statistically significant lower than the control group (p < 0.001). The predictive value of rheumatoid arthritis of RPR and HPR with cutoff points of 0.016 and 0.455 respectively (p < 0.05). The RPR index was strongly positively correlated with HPR (p < 0.001). PLT was strongly negatively correlated with RPR (p < 0.001) and HPR (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The RPR and HPR indices in RA patients were lower than those in controls, and could be one of the indicators to help assess inflammation in patients.