Inflammation, immunity, and gastric ulcer — clinical insights from routine haematology

Core Tip

Core Tip: Gastric ulcer remains a significant health concern with serious complications. This study shows that six complete blood count (CBC)-derived inflammatory indices—neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation—are associated with gastric ulcer, with SIRI demonstrating the strongest predictive value (area under the curve = 0.868). As CBC is widely available, inexpensive, and reproducible, these indices may serve as practical, non-invasive tools for identifying at-risk patients and supplementing traditional risk factors. The findings emphasise the role of systemic inflammation in gastric ulcer pathogenesis and warrant prospective validation.