D-dimer antigen: current concepts and future prospects

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 113 (13) ◽  
pp. 2878-2887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soheir S. Adam ◽  
Nigel S. Key ◽  
Charles S. Greenberg

AbstractThe D-dimer antigen is a unique marker of fibrin degradation that is formed by the sequential action of 3 enzymes: thrombin, factor XIIIa, and plasmin. First, thrombin cleaves fibrinogen producing fibrin monomers, which polymerize and serve as a template for factor XIIIa and plasmin formation. Second, thrombin activates plasma factor XIII bound to fibrin polymers to produce the active transglutaminase, factor XIIIa. Factor XIIIa catalyzes the formation of covalent bonds between D-domains in the polymerized fibrin. Finally, plasmin degrades the crosslinked fibrin to release fibrin degradation products and expose the D-dimer antigen. D-dimer antigen can exist on fibrin degradation products derived from soluble fibrin before its incorporation into a fibrin gel, or after the fibrin clot has been degraded by plasmin. The clinical utility of D-dimer measurement has been established in some scenarios, most notably for the exclusion of VTE. This article consists of 2 sections: in the first, the dynamics of D-dimer antigen formation is discussed and an overview of commercially available D-dimer assays is provided. The second section reviews available evidence for the clinical utilization of D-dimer antigen measurement in VTE, as well as emerging areas of D-dimer utilization as a marker of coagulation activation in other clinical settings.

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Declerck ◽  
P Mombaerts ◽  
P Holvoet ◽  
D Collen

Plasma levels of crosslinked fibrin degradation products (XLDP) were measured before and at the end of the administration of rt-PA (40 to 100 mg over 1.5 to 8 hours) in healthy volunteers (n=5) and patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (n=8), pulmonary embolism (PE) (n=16)and myocardial infarction(MI)(n=10). Determinations were performed using our newly developed ELISA, specific for crosslinked fibrin derivatives, based on two monoclonal antibodies (15C5 and 8D3H2) raised against purified human fragment D-dimer. All plasma samples were collected on citrate and trasylol. Results are expressed as mean and range of D-dimer equivalents (μg/ml).Baseline levels in patients with MI are only slightly elevated. The increased levels inDVT and PE are in agreement with previous studies. After infusion of rt-PA a small increase of XLDP is seen even innormal subjects. A very marked increasof XLDP is detected in patients with PE and DVT but not in patients with MI. This may reflect differences in the amounts of fibrin clot dissolved in these patient groups.No significant correlation was found between the increase of XLDP and success of therapy, although a significant difference in D-dimer levels was formed between the two groups with PE: successful (n=ll): 116 (range 61-192) vs. unsuccessful (n=5): 68 (36-155).Thus, XLDP are already elevated under baseline conditions in patients with DVT and PE and increase very markedly during thrombolytic therapy. The absolute levels after thrombolytic therapy do not strictly correlate with success of therapy. It could be useful to measure D-dimer levels during early stages of therapy, because the rate of increase of XLDP levels might correlate with the efficacy of thrombolytic treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1253-1264
Author(s):  
Christopher C Verni ◽  
Antonio Davila ◽  
Carrie A Sims ◽  
Scott L Diamond

Abstract Background Platelet dysfunction often accompanies trauma-induced coagulopathy. Because soluble fibrin impairs platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signaling and platelets of trauma patients can display impaired calcium mobilization, we explored the role of fibrinolysis on platelet dysfunction during trauma. Methods Convulxin-induced GPVI calcium mobilization was investigated in healthy platelet-rich plasma (PRP) pretreated with thrombin and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Blood samples from healthy participants (n = 7) and trauma patients (n = 22) were tested for platelet calcium mobilization, plasma D-dimer, platelet D-dimer binding (via flow cytometry), and platelet lumi-aggregometry. Results For healthy platelets, maximal platelet dysfunction was observed when cross-linked soluble fibrin (no tPA) or cross-linked fibrin degradation products (FDPs) were generated in suspension before convulxin stimulation. Lack of fibrin polymerization (inhibited by Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro [GPRP]) or lack of factor XIIIa cross-linking (T101-inhibited) restored GPVI signaling, whereas non–cross-linked FDPs only partially blocked signaling induced by convulxin. In addition, D-dimer added to healthy PRP impaired platelet aggregation and dense granule release induced by various agonists. Plasma D-dimer level was strongly correlated (R = 0.8236) with platelet dysfunction as measured by platelet calcium mobilization induced with various agonists. By 48 to 120 h after trauma, plasma D-dimer levels declined, and platelet function increased significantly but not to healthy levels. Trauma platelets displayed elevated D-dimer binding that was only partially reduced by αIIbβ3-inhibitor GR144053. After 60-minute incubation, washed healthy platelets resuspended in plasma from trauma patients captured approximately 10 000 D-dimer equivalents per platelet. Conclusions During trauma, D-dimer and FDPs inhibit platelets, potentially via GPVI and integrin αIIbβ3 engagement, contributing to a fibrinolysis-dependent platelet loss-of-function phenotype.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3502-3502
Author(s):  
Bundarika Suwanawiboon ◽  
Zishan A. Haroon ◽  
Thung S. Lai ◽  
Jogin R. Wu ◽  
Charles S. Greenberg

Abstract FactorXIIIa (FXIIIa) plays an important role in regulating hemostatic and thrombotic events. FXIIIa modifies the structure of fibrin making the insoluble fibrin gel resistant to plasmin degradation. Methods to detect FXIIIa crosslinking of soluble fibrin(ogen) complexes (SFCs) are not readily available. The purpose of this study was to 1) develop a sensitive assay to detect FXIIIa crosslinked (XL)-SFCs designated: cryptic D-dimer assay, 2) determine whether soluble XL-SFCs are formed prior to formation of an insoluble clot, 3) determine whether soluble XL-SFCs circulated in human plasma and could be incorporated into a fibrin clot, 4) determine whether levels of soluble XL-SFCs are elevated in patients suspected of having intravascular coagulation. We postulated that the cryptic D-dimer antigen would be created by FXIIIa crosslinking of SFCs and could be detected after plasmin digestion. We added purified recombinant FXIIIa (119 nM) to afibrinogenemic plasma with varying concentrations of purified fibrinogen (10–200 μg/mL) and assayed for D-dimer antigen levels pre- and post- plasmin treatment. D-dimer levels were determined by a quantitative latex agglutination assay (MiniQuant® D-dimer, Ireland). The assay utilizes a monoclonal antibody specific for an epitope that is present on plasmin modified crosslinked D-dimer domain on either fibrinogen or fibrin. We found that generation of cryptic D-dimer antigen was a) dependent on FXIIIa, b) uncovered only after plasmin digestion and c) increased with escalating fibrinogen concentration. The level of cryptic D-dimer antigen increased from 0.45 μg/ml to 5.4 μg/ml in the presence of fibrinogen (10–200 μg/ml), FXIIIa and 5 mM calcium chloride. We had earlier confirmed that the cryptic D-dimer antigen could be detected in both EDTA and citrated plasmas and the exposure of this antigen was not modified by calcium present during plasmin digestion. We also determined that the cryptic D-dimer antigen was generated 150 sec before a visible clot appeared in recalcifed plasma in plastic tubes. We then investigated whether cryptic D-dimer antigen circulated in healthy individuals and if these levels changed in patients. Cryptic D-dimer antigen was detected (mean level 1 μg/ml, <1% of plasma fibrinogen level) in ten normal plasma samples. In comparison, patients with elevated D-dimer by ELISA assay showed cryptic D-dimer mean level in excess of 5 μg/ml. Cryptic D-dimer levels increased with rising native D-dimer (no plasmin treatment) levels in patients. To assess the thrombogenic potential of SFCs with cryptic D-dimer antigens, we added reptilase (5 BU/ml) to plasma and examined whether the cryptic D-dimer antigen or native D-dimer could bind to a fibrin clot. We found that more than 70% of the cryptic D-dimer antigen was clottable (n=20) as compared to only 48 % of the native D-dimer (n=20). This suggests that the majority of cryptic D-dimer antigen is present on clottable SFCs. In conclusion, we developed an assay that can detect the ability of FXIIIa to modify SFCs before the appearance of a fibrin clot and may serve as a sensitive marker of intravascular fibrin formation. The cryptic D-dimer antigen is a novel analyte that is present on clottable SFCs and its levels increased in individuals experiencing intravascular blood coagulation. In addition, a basal level of FXIIIa activity exists in human plasma and that regulating this process could have an important impact on the fate of intravascular fibrin and thrombotic events.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Gaffney ◽  
L J Creighton ◽  
A Curry ◽  
B MacMahon ◽  
R Thorpe

Monoclonal antibodies (mabs) to crosslinked fibrin degradation products (XL-FDP) having the general formula D/Y[X]nY/D (known as X-oligomer) and D-D (known as D dimer) have been raised in balb/C mice by both a novel mtrasplenic and a conventional subcutaneous route of immunisation and by combinations of both these procedures. Mabs to X-oligomers (NIBn 52 and NIBn 123) obtained by an intrasplenic procedure have been demonstrated to crossreact only with X-oligomer in a 2-site ELISA procedure and not with D dimer or whole fibrinogen and have been shown to be of value m the examination of clinical material obtained from patients with various types of thrombosis and have also been useful in monitoring the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy. The X-oligomer mabs are immunoglobulins of the M class. It was demonstrated that their unique specificity for conformational epitopes on the large X-oligomer fragments does not reside in the IgM structure since alterative immunisation procedures have been used to generate mabs of the IgG class which have the same specificity. Using immunoglobulin class switching in culture rather than during immunisation was suggested by certain cell lines which produced both IgM and IgG specific for X-oligomer. This latter point needs rigorous validation.Immunoglobulin G type mabs to highly purified D dimer were raised by conventional subcutaneous immunisation of balb/C mice. One of these, NIBn-11, was found to crossreact with PVC-immobilised X-oligomer and D dimer but not with fibrinogen. However NIBn-11 did not bind to D dimer in a 2-site ELISA procedure while crossreactmg quite avidly with X-oligomer. This suggests that the D dimer epitope to which NIBn-11 is directed is expressed in some conformations and not m others and that these conformations are always expressed in the complex X-oligomer group of fragments. These mabs, whilst of value in measuring certain unique fibrin fragments m plasma, are useful in the epitope mapping of fibrinogen/fibrin and their plasmm-mediated


2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (01) ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Levin ◽  
John Wu ◽  
John Alexander ◽  
Clayton Reichart ◽  
Suvro Sett ◽  
...  

SummaryWe have investigated hemostatic parameters including platelet activation in 56 pediatric patients with or without cyanosis undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac surgery to repair congenital defects. Patients were participants in a study assessing the effects of tranexamic acid on surgery-related blood loss. Parameters monitored included blood loss, prothrombin F1.2, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, t-PA, PAI-1, plasminogen, fibrin D-dimer, and plasma factor XIII. Additionally, flow cytometry monitored platelet degranulation (P-selectin or CD63), as well as surface-bound fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and factor XIIIa. Cyanotic patients had evidence of supranormal coagulation activation as both fibrin D-dimer and PAI-1 levels were elevated prior to surgery. While the extent of expression of Pselectin or CD63 was not informative, platelet-associated factor XIIIa was elevated in cyanotic patients at baseline. In both patient groups, CPB altered platelet activation state and coagulation status irrespective of the use of tranexamic acid.


2022 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 107602962110705
Author(s):  
Nozomi Ikeda ◽  
Hideo Wada ◽  
Yuhuko Ichikawa ◽  
Minoru Ezaki ◽  
Motoko Tanaka ◽  
...  

Introduction Although D-dimer is a useful biomarker of thrombosis, there are many D-dimer kits, with high and low fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FDP)/ D-dimer ratios. Methods Plasma D-dimer levels were measured using three different kits in critically ill patients to examine the usefulness of such measurements for detecting the thrombotic diseases and determining the correlation with the FDP and FDP/D-dimer ratio. Results Although three D-dimer kits showed marked utility for diagnosing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and peripheral arterial and venous thromboembolism (PAVTE), the D-dimer levels determined using the three kits varied among diseases. Indeed, one D-dimer kit showed a high FDP/D-dimer ratio, and another kit showed a low FDP/D-dimer ratio. D-dimer kit with low FDP/D-dimer ratio tended to have high cut-off values and low specificity for diagnosing DIC and PAVTE. In D-dimer kit with high FDP/D-dimer ratio, FDP/D-dimer ratios in patients with thrombosis was significantly higher than that in patients without thrombosis. Conclusion All three D-dimer kits show utility for detecting thrombotic diseases. However, the D-dimer levels determined using the kits varied due to differences in the FDP/D-dimer ratio. In combination with the FDP level, a D-dimer kit with a high FDP/D-dimer ratio may be useful.


1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.N. Whitaker ◽  
E.A. Rowe ◽  
P.P. Masci ◽  
P.J. Gaffney

D-dimer (D2), a product of the plasmin lysis of cross-linked (XL) fibrin, but not of non-XL fibrin or fibrinogen, has been identified in the plasma of patients with DIC due to amniotic fluid embolism. In vitro, D is involved with fragment E as a stable complex (D2-E) but D2 -E has not been identified in vivo before. Fibrin degradation products (FDP) were studied in a patient having fulminant postsplenectomy pneumococcal sepsis and DIC, by immunoprecipitation with anti-fibrinogen (f) and anti-fragment E and characterization by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). With both antisera soluble HMW fibrin complexes, D2 and E but no X, Y or D were obtained from serum. D2 and E were identified in the supernatant after removing partially XL HMW complexes and fibrinogen from plasma with 2.5 M β-alanine. The presence D antigen in the D2-E complex precipitated by monospecific anti-E was confirmed by crossed Ag-Ab electrophoresis. Crossed Ag-Ab electrophoresis of serum in agarose gave E peaks of slow mobility and no fast-moving free E was found. Thus, D2-E complex exists in vivo and its easy identification, proving the lysis of XL fibrin, would be of value in studying thrombosis. D2-E complex has been identified in other patients with sepsis but at lower concentrations than described above.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1341-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Lawler ◽  
EG Bovill ◽  
DC Stump ◽  
DJ Collen ◽  
KG Mann ◽  
...  

Abstract The validity of markers in plasma of in vitro thrombolysis was investigated in 12 patients with extensive fibrinogen breakdown (greater than 80%, group 1) and in 12 patients with minimal breakdown (less than 20%, group 2). The patients were treated with 100 mg of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in the “Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction II” (TIMI II) trial. Cross- linked fibrin degradation product levels were measured with two variant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), both using a fibrin fragment D-dimer specific capture antibody. In one instance, a tag antibody was used that cross-reacts with fibrinogen (pan-specific tag ELISA); in the other, the tag antibody was specific for fibrin fragment D (fibrin-specific tag ELISA). Apparent concentrations of cross-linked fibrin degradation products at baseline were within normal limits with both assays in most patients. At 8 hours after rt-PA infusion, the measured cross-linked fibrin degradation products were increased about twofold to fourfold in group 2 with both assays. However, in group 1, levels were significantly higher with the pan-specific tag ELISA (5.8 +/- 4.2 micrograms/mL) compared with the fibrin-specific tag ELISA (1.5 +/- 1.3 micrograms/mL). This observation was most likely a result of detection of fibrinogen degradation products in the pan-specific ELISA. Apparent levels of fibrinopeptide B beta 1–42, a marker of fragment X formation, increased during thrombolysis from 4.2 +/- 2.8 pmol/mL to 2,000 +/- 230 pmol/mL in group 1 and from 4.1 +/- 2.1 pmol/mL to 300 +/- 43 pmol/mL in group 2, and were correlated significantly with the extent of fibrinogen breakdown (r = -0.8). Fibrinopeptide beta 15–42 levels increased from 4.3 +/- 3 pmol/mL to 70 +/- 19 pmol/mL in group 1, but did not increase in group 2. The apparent increase in group 1 could be explained by cross-reactivity of fibrinopeptide B beta 1–42 in the fibrinopeptide beta 15–42 assay. We conclude that cross-linked fibrin degradation product levels as measured with a pan-specific tag ELISA and fibrinopeptide beta 15–42 levels as measured with certain monoclonal antibody-based ELISA are influenced by the extent of fibrinogen degradation. Fibrinopeptide B beta 1–42 is a marker specific for fibrinogen breakdown. Cross-linked fibrin degradation product levels, measured with a fibrin-specific tag ELISA, appear to be markers specific for thrombolysis. Consequently, assays similar to the fibrin- specific tag ELISA may provide more accurate information when correlated with clinical endpoints.


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