Evaluation of Large Unstained Cells (LUC) and Nitric Oxide in Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTION: The large unstained cells (LUC) is a differential count parameter measured by routine hematology analyzers and reflects activated lymphocytes and peroxidase-negative cells in leukocytes. Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in all tissues in enzymatic and non-enzymatic ways. This study aimed to determine the levels of LUC and NO products (nitrite and nitrate) and to evaluate the LUC/NO ratio in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM).
METHODS: The study included 103 DM patients and 84 healthy controls. HbA1c, LUC/%LUC and total NO levels were measured. All the statistical calculations were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program.
RESULTS: Nitric oxide levels of the patients were statistically significantly lower compared with the control group (p=0.004). LUC levels, LUC% values, LUC/NO, and LUC%/NO ratios were significantly higher in the DM group (p=0.002, p=0.009, p= <0.001, and p= <0.001, respectively). Statistically significant correlations were observed between HbA1c and nitrite, nitrate, NO, LUC/NO ratio, and LUC % /NO ratio.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, we determined the LUC/NO percent ratio and LUC%/NO percent ratio for the first time, according to our knowledge. We predict that these two parameters may be useful markers in the diagnosis and the follow-up of the disease and may provide target pathways for further studies that may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of the disease.