NEUTROPHIL-TO-LYMPHOCYTE RATIO AS A PREDICTOR OF PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII PNEUMONIA RISK IN HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN - A DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY STUDY

Abstract

This study evaluates neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in HIV-infected children with progressive immunosuppression. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of 47 affected versus 51 unaffected children identifies a cut-off of 4.3, yielding sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 82.4%, establishing neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a reliable, accessible early warning marker in resource-limited pediatric HIV care settings.