Clinical Evaluation of Systemic Inflammation Markers in Patients Diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the levels of systemic inflammation markers—including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hematological ratios, and complete blood count parameters—in individuals diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TBC). The clinical significance of these biomarkers in the diagnosis, disease activity, and treatment response was evaluated, and their associations with age, sex, and comorbidities were also analyzed.Materials and Methods: Following ethics approval (2025-GOKAEK-2517), hospital records of patients aged 18–80 years diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis between 2023 and 2025 at Yozgat Bozok University and Sivas Cumhuriyet University were retrospectively reviewed. The control group consisted of healthy individuals who presented during the same period. Hemogram parameters, CRP, ESR, and the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) were assessed, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v22.0.Results: A total of 134 individuals (67 TBC and 67 controls) were included. In the TBC group, 70.1% were male, and the mean age was 48.76 ± 18.01 years. Comorbidities were present in 70.1% of patients, most commonly COPD, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The TBC group demonstrated significantly higher leukocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, platelet, CRP, ESR, and SII levels, while hemoglobin and lymphocyte levels were significantly lower (all p < 0.0001). Although the mean SII value was elevated (2772.51 ± 4004.20), it did not show a significant association with diagnostic test results or clinical outcomes.Conclusion: The markedly elevated SII levels in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis suggest that this index may serve as a potential biomarker reflecting increased systemic inflammation. However, its limited correlation with diagnostic and clinical endpoints indicates that it should be considered a supportive—not standalone—parameter in clinical evaluation.