scholarly journals THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN D-DIMER AND DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS LOCATION AND ITS ABILITY TO PREDICT PULMONARY EMBOLISM, a retrospective pilot study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Ali Althomali ◽  
Adel S. Alghamdi ◽  
Tareef H. Gnoot ◽  
Mohammad A. Alhassan ◽  
Abdullatif H. Ajaimi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In lower limb deep vein thrombosis; it is important to identify proximal from distal deep vein thrombosis as it carries the highest risk of pulmonary embolism. It is known that D-dimer has a great role in deep vein thrombosis diagnosis. Yet, the use of D-dimer to predict the location of deep vein thrombosis and the risk of pulmonary embolism in deep vein thrombosis patients has not been investigated before. Objective To address the correlation between D-dimer and the location of deep vein thrombosis and to study the efficacy of D-dimer to predict risk of PE in patients with proximal or extensive deep vein thrombosis. Method We included 110 consecutive patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, with or without a concomitant diagnosis of PE, and with D-dimer measured at initial presentation. We categorized the location of deep vein thrombosis as: distal, proximal, and extensive. In the analysis, patients were grouped into high-risk (patients with Proximal or Extensive deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) and low risk group (patients without pulmonary embolism). Results There was no significant association between D-dimer level and the location of deep vein thrombosis (p=0.519). However, D-dimer level was greater among patients with pulmonary embolism (9.6mg/L) than among patients without pulmonary embolism (7.4mg/L), (p=0.027). D-dimer was a significant predictor of pulmonary embolism as patients with proximal or extensive deep vein thrombosis had 8-folds increased risk of pulmonary embolism than patients with D-dimer less than 4.75mg/L (OR=7.9, p=0.013). Conclusion Though D-dimer was not significantly associated with the location of deep vein thrombosis, it was a significant predictor of pulmonary embolism in patients hospitalized with proximal or extensive deep vein thrombosis.

Author(s):  
Matthias M. Engelen ◽  
Christophe Vandenbriele ◽  
Tim Balthazar ◽  
Eveline Claeys ◽  
Jan Gunst ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication of COVID-19, so that the importance of adequate in-hospital thromboprophylaxis in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is well established. However, the incidence of VTE after discharge and whether postdischarge thromboprophylaxis is beneficial and safe are unclear. In this prospective observational single-center study, we report the incidence of VTE 6 weeks after hospitalization and the use of postdischarge thromboprophylaxis. Methods Patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 were invited to a multidisciplinary follow-up clinic 6 weeks after discharge. D-dimer and C-reactive protein were measured, and all patients were screened for deep vein thrombosis with venous duplex-ultrasound. Additionally, selected high-risk patients received computed tomography pulmonary angiogram or ventilation–perfusion (V/Q) scan to screen for incidental pulmonary embolism. Results Of 485 consecutive patients hospitalized from March through June 2020, 146 patients were analyzed, of which 39% had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Postdischarge thromboprophylaxis was prescribed in 28% of patients, but was used more frequently after ICU stay (61%) and in patients with higher maximal D-dimer and C-reactive protein levels during hospitalization. Six weeks after discharge, elevated D-dimer values were present in 32% of ward and 42% of ICU patients. Only one asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (0.7%) and one symptomatic pulmonary embolism (0.7%) were diagnosed with systematic screening. No bleedings were reported. Conclusion In patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19, systematic screening for VTE 6 weeks after discharge revealed a low incidence of VTE. A strategy of selectively providing postdischarge thromboprophylaxis in high-risk patients seems safe and potentially effective.


Author(s):  
Yash Kripalani ◽  
Lipeeka Parulekar

The prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 patients is higher than in non-COVID-19 patients. Since the beginning of the pandemic, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and pulmonary embolism (PE) have been reported in patients with COVID-19. D-dimer levels are now routinely measured in hospitalized patients so that prophylaxis can be initiated. However, a standardized protocol for prophylaxis has yet to be developed for pregnant women with COVID-19, who have an increased risk of VTE. We describe the case of a young primigravida woman with a positive COVID RT-PCR test who developed PE despite receiving adequate prophylaxis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1099-1100
Author(s):  
Cem Çil ◽  
Oğuzhan Çelik ◽  
Bülent Özlek ◽  
Eda Özlek ◽  
Murat Biteker ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1769-1773
Author(s):  
Kylee E White ◽  
Christopher T Elder

Introduction As a single agent, fluorouracil has been documented to have a small but present chance of causing extravasation of the port when not properly administered. It has also been shown that cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are at increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, symptomatic or silent. Case report A 43-year-old male patient with stage III colon cancer receiving FOLFOX developed a saddle pulmonary embolism involving possible extravasation that was discovered following cycle 3 of chemotherapy. CT scan and lower extremity Doppler confirmed non-occlusive deep vein thrombosis along with saddle pulmonary embolism. Management and outcome: For acute management, patient underwent bilateral pulmonary artery thrombolysis. Following this, the patient was initiated on rivaroxaban indefinitely. The right subclavian port was removed, and a new port was placed in the left subclavian. Patient went on to receive three more cycles of chemotherapy. Discussion Fluorouracil, an inflammitant, has been shown to have damaging potential, especially in terms of the integrity of the endothelium. Over time, this can lead to serious complications such as cardiotoxicity, including deep vein thrombosis formation. Based on how and when the thrombi were discovered, it is not possible to deduce whether the port, the 5-FU, extravasation or other factors were the precipitators of the formation of the thrombi. The combination of chemotherapy treatment along with CVC placement appears to have an additive risk to the formation of a thrombus. Practitioners should take caution when evaluating for extravasation and CVC integrity and note other potential differentials for causes, including deep vein thrombosis/saddle pulmonary embolism formation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 529-532
Author(s):  
Caliezi ◽  
Holtz ◽  
Wuillemin

D-Dimere sind Abbauprodukte des quervernetzten Fibrins nach fibrinolytischer Spaltung durch Plasmin. D-Dimere können im Plasma oder im Vollblut mittels gegen Epitope des D-Dimers gerichteter monoklonaler Antikörper nachgewiesen werden. Erhöhte D-Dimer-Werte finden sich bei Patienten mit tiefer Venenthrombose (TVT) oder Lungenembolie (LE), aber auch z.B. bei Patienten mit Infektionen, malignen Tumoren oder Herzinsuffizienz. Die Bestimmung der D-Dimere hat sich als früher Abklärungsschritt in der Diagnostik venöser Thromboembolien (TVT/LE) etabliert. Die hohe Sensitivität verschiedener ELISA-Teste ermöglicht es, die Diagnose einer TVT oder LE zuverlässig auszuschließen, falls die Konzentration der D-Dimere unterhalb einer kritischen Schwelle (sog. cut-off) liegt. Bei ambulanten Patienten gelingt es so, in rund 30% der Fälle mit Hilfe eines gut validierten Testes eine venöse Thromboembolie auszuschließen und auf weitere diesbezügliche Untersuchungen zu verzichten.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1041-1048
Author(s):  
Barbara Labella ◽  
Patrizia Giannantoni ◽  
Roberta De Blasi ◽  
Giovanni Caracci ◽  
Fabrizio Carinci

Abstract Background In the framework of targeted action for continuous safety monitoring, we aimed to evaluate the consistency of indicators derived from available databases for regular reporting. Methods We used a quality of care interpretative model to select characteristics from five national databases, aggregated and linked by homogeneous groups of providers. The target population included all subjects admitted to public hospitals for acute care in four regions of Italy between 2011 and 2013. The association between structures, processes and safety-related outcomes was investigated using odds ratios from generalized estimating equations logistic regression. Outcome measures included claims of malpractice and five patient safety indicators calculated from discharge abstracts using standardized algorithms. Results Over 3 years, claims of malpractice and sepsis increased, whereas deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism decreased. Hospitals with high vs. low volume of discharges were associated with −16% lower rates of claims, but +12% increased risk of sepsis. Compared with research institutes, university clinics had −17% lower rates of claims and −41% cases of dehiscence, with a +32% increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. Local health care authorities recorded −49% deep vein thrombosis, −26% pulmonary embolism, −40% sepsis and +37% risk of claims. Hospitals submitting cases of safe practices and implementing safety recommendations showed significantly higher rates for most outcome measures. Conclusions Indicators from regular databases can be conveniently used to develop a national safety monitoring system for hospital care. Although deeper analysis is needed, institutions with a higher propensity to implement safe practices and recommendations consistently showed higher rates of adverse events.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 452-452
Author(s):  
Sabine Eichinger ◽  
Georg Heinze ◽  
Paul Alexander Kyrle

Abstract Abstract 452 Background: Venous thrombosis is a chronic and potentially fatal disease (case fatality 5-9%). Predicting the likelihood of recurrence is important, as most recurrences can be prevented by antithrombotic therapy, albeit at the price of an increased bleeding risk during anticoagulation. Despite a substantial progress in identifying the determinants of the recurrence risk, predicting recurrence in an individual patient is often not feasible. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a multicausal disease and the combined effect of clinical and laboratory factors on the recurrence risk is unknown. It was the aim of our study to develop a simple risk model that improves prediction of the recurrence risk in patients with unprovoked VTE. Methods and Findings: In a prospective multicenter cohort study we followed 929 patients with a first VTE after completion of at least 3 months of anticoagulation. The median observation time was 43.3 months. Patients with VTE provoked by surgery, trauma, cancer, pregnancy or oral contraceptive intake were excluded as were those with a natural inhibitor deficiency or the lupus anticoagulant. The main outcome measure was symptomatic recurrent VTE, which occurred in 176 patients. The probability of recurrence (95% CI) after 2, 5 and 10 years was 13.8% (11.6% to16.5%), 24.6% (21.6% to 28.9%), and 31.8% (27.6% to 37.4%), respectively. To develop a simple and easy to apply risk assessment model, clinical and laboratory variables (age, sex, location of VTE, body mass index, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A mutation, D-Dimer, in vitro thrombin generation) were preselected based on their established relevance for the recurrence risk, simple assessment, and reproducibility. All variables were analyzed in a Cox proportional hazards model, and those significantly associated with recurrence were used to compute risk scores. Only male sex [HR vs. female 1.90 (95% CI 1.31–2.75)], proximal deep vein thrombosis [HR vs. distal 2.08 (95% CI 1.16–3.74)], pulmonary embolism [HR vs. distal thrombosis 2.60 (95% CI 1.49– 4.53)] and elevated levels of D-Dimer [HR per doubling 1.27 (95% CI 1.08–1.51)] or peak thrombin [HR per 100 nM increase 1.38 (95% CI 1.17–1.63)] were related to a higher recurrence risk. We developed a nomogram (Fig. 1) based on sex, location of initial thrombosis, and D-Dimer that can be used to calculate risk scores and to estimate the cumulative probabilities of recurrence in an individual patient. The model has undergone extensive validation by a cross-validation process. The cohort was divided into test and validation samples thereby mimicking independent validation. This process was repeated 1000 times and the results were averaged to avoid dependence of the validation results on a particular partition of our cohort. Patients were assigned to different risk categories according to their risk score, which corresponded well with the recurrence rate as patients with lower scores had lower recurrence rates. Conclusion: By use of a simple scoring system the assessment of the recurrence risk in patients with a first unprovoked VTE can be improved in routine care. Patients with unprovoked VTE in whom the recurrence risk is low enough to consider a limited duration of anticoagulation, can be identified. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document