Abstract:
Objective To investigate the correlation between the novel inflammatory markers monocyte to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and the activity of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Methods The clinical data of 84 patients with TAO who were hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, the Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, from January 2023 to July 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the clinical activity score (CAS), the patients were divided into the active group (CAS ≥ 3 points) and the inactive group (CAS < 3 points). General data, routine blood test results, blood biochemical indicators, thyroid function, orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, and other indicators were collected from the two groups. Correlation analysis, Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of each indicator.
Results Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that MHR, SII and EMA were independent influencing factors for TAO activity (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for MHR was 0.679, with a 95% CI of 55.8%-80.0% and P = 0.006. The optimal cut off value was 0.320, with a sensitivity of 0.868 and a specificity of 0.452. The AUC for SII was 0.652, with a 95% CI of 53.1%-77.4% and P = 0.020. The optimal cut off value was 0.298, with a sensitivity of 0.717 and a specificity of 0.581. The AUC for the combined diagnostic indicator was 0.717, with a 95% CI of 60.8%-83.0% and P = 0.001. The optimal cut-off value was 0.429, with a sensitivity of 0.623 and a specificity of 0.806.
Conclusions The combined diagnostic indicator had the highest specificity and a relatively high AUC, indicating that it has good balance and high accuracy in diagnosing activity in patients with TAO. As readily available blood inflammatory markers, MHR and SII may serve as effective supplements to imaging assessment and are correlated with TAO activity. MHR, SII and their combined diagnostic indicator may become valuable indicators for assessing activity in patients with TAO.