Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate changes of peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) index in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods 39 patients with AIH and 42 healthy individuals were enrolled in our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023, and all patien ts with AIHunderwent liver biopsy and received prednisone and azathioprine combination therapy. NLR was calculated based on results of blood cytometry, and nCD64 index was detected by FCM. Serum biochemical index and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were routinely detected. Results Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, IgG and peripheral blood NLR and nCD64 index in patients with AIH were (176.0±30.2)U/L,(141.4±31.8)U/L, (19.7±2.8)g/L, (2.2±0.6)and (3.1±0.9), all significantly higher than [(22.8±5.8)U/L,(27.6±6.3)U/L,(10.4±1.8)g/L, (1.4±0.2)and (0.6±0.1), respectively, P<0.05] in healthy persons; histo-pathological examination showed mild, moderate and severe disease in 10 cases, 17 cases and 12 cases, G1/G2 in 28 cases and G3/G4 in 11 cases, and F0 in 6 cases, F1/F2 in 22 cases and F3/F4 in 11 cases, finding serum and blood parameters in patients with severe injuries were much higher than in those with relatively mild liver injuries (P<0.05); at end of six month treatment, complete biochemical response (CBR) was obtained in 32 cases(82.1%), and incomplete in 7 cases (17.9%), with NLR and nCD64 in patients with incomplete response of (1.7±0.4)and (2.1±0.6), much higher than [(1.4±0.3) and (1.5±0.5), respectively, P<0.05] in those with CBR. Conclusion Peripheral bloodNLR and nCD64 index in patients with active AIH elevate, which might be applied to assess disease severity and response to standard immunosuppressive therapy.

Key words: Autoimmune hepatitis, Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, Neutrophil CD64, Immunosuppressive therapy, Response