PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF PLATELET- NEUTROPHIL COMPLEXES IN NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA PATIENTS

. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are a group of lymphoproliferative diseases with a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical, morphological, and immunophenotypic characteristics. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is characterized by abnormal proliferation or accumulation of B or T lymphocytes. Circulating neutrophils and platelets have a proven role in both the pathogenesis of inflammatory processes and thrombosis and in the processes of tumorigenesis.The formation of complexes between neutrophils and circulating platelets (PNC) is a fundamental mechanism that is known but poorly studied in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Aim: To investigate the levels of circulating neutrophil-platelet complexes in newly diagnosed patients with aggressive and indolent NHL and the relationship of those levels with prognostic risk, prognosis, overall survival, and therapeutic response. Methods: PNC levels were analyzed by flow cytometry of peripheral blood from 88 patients with histologically verified NHL before chemotherapy. The results were statistically analyzed using dispersion, variable, comparison, correlation, and regression methods. Results: The mean age of the studied patients was 60.6 years ± 11.8 years (range 28–88 years), with men and patients with aggressive lymphoma accounting for just over half the population (52.3% each). A significant difference (p = 0.005) and an inversely weak dependence was found between IPI risk and survival (r = -0.277; p = 0.009) in aggressive lymphomas. A significant difference was found between the type of lymphoma and the therapeutic response (p = 0.030). A complete response was achieved in 42 (47.7%) patients with NHL, while progression was observed in 17 (19.3%) and relapse in 2 (2.3%) There was a strong significant correlation between PNC and IPI (р=0.021), PNC and therapeutic response (р=0.044). Conclusion: PNC measurement could be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker in many diseases.