2.2 Baseline laboratory tests
Patients and HC were tested for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) following the conventional Westergren method. In addition, a complete blood count (total white blood cells [WBC], granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes was conducted using an automated hematology analyzer (CELL-DYN Automated Emerald, Abbott, USA). Granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) was obtained by dividing the absolute count of granulocytes with the absolute count of lymphocytes. Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was obtained by dividing the absolute count of lymphocytes with the absolute count of monocytes.