{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T21:49:00Z","timestamp":1784929740546,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,2]],"date-time":"2023-06-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1685664000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background and objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated neuropathy. This has raised the possibility that the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may be a biomarker of its activity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the evidence of NLR as a potential biomarker for GBS.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>We systematically searched databases (PubMed, Ovid-Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO Citation Index, LILACS, and Google Scholar) until October 2021 for studies evaluating pre-treatment NLR values in GBS patients. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model to estimate pooled effects was realized for each outcome and a narrative synthesis when this was not possible. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were realized. GRADE criteria were used to identify the certainty of evidence for each result.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Ten studies from 745 originally included were selected. Regarding GBS patients versus healthy controls, a meta-analysis of six studies (968 patients) demonstrated a significant increase in NLR values in GBS patients (MD: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.24; I2 = 86%) with moderate certainty due to heterogeneity of GBS diagnosis criteria used. Regarding GBS prognosis, assessed by Hughes Score \u2265 3, NLR had a sensitivity between 67.3 and 81.5 and a specificity between 67.3 and 87.5 with low certainty due to imprecision, and heterogeneity. In relation to respiratory failure, NLR had a sensitivity of 86.5 and specificity of 68.2 with high and moderate certainty, respectively.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>With moderate certainty, mean NLR is higher in GBS patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, we found that NLR could be a prognostic factor for disability and respiratory failure with low and moderate certainty, respectively. These results may prove useful for NLR in GBS patients; however, further research is needed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:ext-link>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/PROSPERO\/<\/jats:ext-link>, identifier: CRD42021285212.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2023.1153690","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,2]],"date-time":"2023-06-02T14:30:33Z","timestamp":1685716233000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic biomarker in Guillain-Barre syndrome: a systematic review with 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