scholarly journals Efficacy of D-Dimer Assay in Pulmonary Venous Thromboembolism: Study of 76 Cases

Author(s):  
Shubhi Saxena ◽  
Nishant Saxena ◽  
Richa Jain ◽  
Jasmin Jasani

Introduction: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses a wide spectrum consisting predominantly of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The value of Fibrin Degradation Product (FDP) of which, most common is D-dimer which is most commonly deployed to pre-diagnose venous thrombosis. Diagnosing it has always been a hard effort. It is produced when cross-linked fibrin is broken down; among patient who is suspected of having pulmonary embolism, blood D-dimer levels correlate with the probability of having pulmonary embolism. Aim: This study was done to analyse the sensitivity of plasma D-dimer for VTE. Materials and Methods: Retrospective case study of 76 patients with VTE in form of pulmonary embolism done at the Dhiraj Hospital, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Vadodara from January 2019 to January 2020 for a period of one year. Prethrombolytic plasma was withdrawn and D-dimer quantification were measured using fully automatic stago coagulometer instruement (STA Compact Max). Sensitivity, Specificity, Negative Predictive Value (NPV) and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was calculated and formulated in tables and graphs. Results: The sensitivity, NPV, specificity and PPV of the D-dimer was 95.65%, 76.92%, 66.66% and 92.95%, respectively. CT pulmonary angiography had a specificity of 80%, sensitivity of 92.75%, a NPV of 70.58% and a PPV of 95.52%. Conclusion: D-dimer is mostly the go to test for ruling out VTE especially pulmonary embolism, if the pre-test probability is intermediate. Rationale use of this test does help in prognostification and helps to achieve therapeutics faster and more effectively.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoming Li ◽  
Yajing Qin ◽  
Wenjing Ye ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Dezhi Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) patients usually have elevated D-dimer levels. The diagnostic performance of D-dimer in predicting pulmonary embolism (PE) in the TPE population is unclear. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of D-dimer for PE in the TPE population and explore its potential mechanism. Methods We retrospectively analysed patients who were admitted to Xinhua Hospital and Weifang Respiratory Disease Hospital with confirmed TPE between March 2014 and January 2020. D-dimer levels were compared between patients with and without PE. To test the diagnostic performance of D-dimer in predicting PE, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were also reported. To explore the potential mechanism of PE in TPE, inflammatory biomarkers were compared between PE and non-PE patients. Results This study included 248 patients (170 males and 78 females) aged 43 ± 20.6 years. Elevated D-dimer levels (≥ 0.5 mg/L) were detected in 186/248 (75%) patients. Of the 150 patients who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography, 29 were diagnosed with PE. Among the TPE population, the PE patients had significantly higher D-dimer levels than the non-PE patients (median, 1.06 mg/L vs. 0.84 mg/L, P < 0.05). The optimal cut-off value for D-dimer in predicting PE in TPE was 1.18 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 77.8% (area under curve, 0.893; 95% confidence interval 0.839–0.947; P < 0.01). The PPV was 49.1%, while the NPV was 96.9% at a D-dimer cut-off of 1.18 mg/L for PE. PE patients had lower median WBC and interleukin (IL)-8 values (5.14 × 109/L vs. 6.1 × 109/L, P < 0.05; 30.2 pg/ml vs. 89.7 pg/ml, P < 0.05) but a higher median IL-2 receptor value (1964.8 pg/ml vs. 961.2 pg/ml, P < 0.01) than those in the non-PE patients. Conclusions D-dimer is an objective biomarker for predicting PE in patients with TPE. A D-dimer cut-off of 1.18 mg/L in the TPE population may reduce unnecessary radiological tests due to its excellent sensitivity, specificity, and NPV for PE. The imbalance of prothrombotic and antithrombotic cytokines may partly be attributed to the formation of pulmonary emboli in patients with TPE.


1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (02) ◽  
pp. 221-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri Bounameaux ◽  
Arnaud Perrier ◽  
Philippe Moerloose ◽  
Guido Reber

SummaryMany studies have shown that D-dimer determinations can be used for the exclusion of venous thromboembolism in symptomatic outpatients, depending however on the method of D-dimer measurement. Another related assay, the Fibrin Monomer test which measures soluble fibrin levels in plasma by ELISA, is now available.We have evaluated the performances of this assay for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE) in 426 consecutive outpatients presenting at the emergency ward of our institution. Diagnosis of PE was made by D-dimer measurement, compression ultrasonography, lung scintigraphy, venography and pulmonary angiography. With a cut-off of 3 μg/ml, the sensitivity and the negative predictive value were both 100% (95% CI: 97.1-100 and 96.3-100 respectively) and the specificity 33% (95% CI: 25.7-38.1). With 4 μg/ml, the corresponding figures were 98.4 (95% CI: 94.4-99.8), 98.3 (95% CI: 94.1-99.8) and 39% (95% CI: 33.6-44.7) respectively. The prevalence of PE was 30%, the exclusion rates were 23 and 27% for either cut-off. When compared with a reference D-dimer assay (Asserachrom D-Di), a good correlation was observed. In conclusion, this is the first study suggesting the interest of this Fibrin Monomer test to rule out PE; these results, however, need to be confirmed by other studies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-87
Author(s):  
Deepak Subedi ◽  
◽  
Derek Bell ◽  
Shazad Aslam ◽  
Marina J Brochwitz Lewinski ◽  
...  

Background: The utility of D-dimer in the diagnostic workup of pulmonary embolism has been established. Several D-dimer tests are available with different sensitivities and specificities. SimpliRED D-dimer is a rapid qualitative whole blood D-dimer assay suitable for bedside use. Objective: To assess the utility of the SimpliRED D-dimer test in patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism in the absence of formal ‘risk scoring’. Design: A prospective study measuring SimpliRED D-dimer in unselected patients undergoing computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examination for suspected acute pulmonary embolism. Main outcome measures: D-dimer and CTPA results were compared. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of SimpliRED D-dimer were calculated for the unselected patient group. Results: Forty-seven patients underwent D-dimer testing and CTPA. SimpliRED D-dimer was positive in 23 and negative in 24 patients. D-dimer was positive in only 6 (50%) of the 12 patients with positive CTPA. Of the 35 with negative CTPA, 17 had positive D-dimer. The positive predictive value of the D-dimer was 26.1 % and the negative predictive value 75.0%. Conclusion: SimpliRED D-dimer should not be used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the absence of risk scoring.


Author(s):  
Muhanad Taha ◽  
Paul Nguyen ◽  
Aditi Sharma ◽  
Mazen Taha ◽  
Lobelia Samavati

Background: Hypercoagulation is one of the striking features of COVID-19. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at high risk for venous thromboembolism. However, it is unknown if the risk for venous thromboembolism persists after discharge. Case Summary: We report a case with pulmonary embolism 5 months after COVID-19. No risk factors for venous thrombosis have been identified. Conclusion: In COVID-19 related hospitalization, large studies are needed to identify the risk of venous thromboembolism after discharge.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Z. Goldhaber

Venous thromboembolism, which involves venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients and is being seen with increasing frequency in outpatients. This chapter discusses the risk factors, etiology, classification, pathophysiology, natural history, prognosis, diagnosis (including venous thrombosis, recurrent venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism), prophylaxis, and treatment of venous thromboembolism (including the pharmacology of antithrombotic agents), as well as venous thromboembolism in pregnancy and miscellaneous thromboembolic disorders (including thrombosis of unusual sites).  This review contains 8 figures, 16 tables, and 79 references. Keywords: Venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, embolectomy, thrombolysis, hypercoagulability, duplex ultrasonography, D-dimer, anticoagulation


Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish Patel ◽  
Haozhe Sun ◽  
Ali N. Hussain ◽  
Trupti Vakde

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), including lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is increasing. The increase in suspicion for VTE has lowered the threshold for performing imaging studies to confirm diagnosis of VTE. However, only 20% of suspected cases have a confirmed diagnosis of VTE. Development of pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria (PERC) and update in pre-test probability have changed the paradigm of ruling-out patient with low index of suspicion. The D-dimer test in conjunction to the pre-test probability has been utilized in VTE diagnosis. The age appropriate D-dimer cutoff and inclusion of YEARS algorithm (signs of the DVT, hemoptysis and whether PE is the likely diagnosis) for the D-dimer cutoff have been recent updates in the evaluation of suspected PE. Multi-detector computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and compression ultrasound (CUS) are the preferred imaging modality to diagnose PE and DVT respectively. The VTE diagnostic algorithm do differ in pregnant individuals. The prerequisite of avoiding excessive radiation has recruited planar ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan as preferred in pregnant patients to evaluate for PE. The modification of CUS protocol with addition of the Valsalva maneuver should be performed while evaluating DVT in pregnant individual.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Z. Goldhaber

Venous thromboembolism, which involves venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients and is being seen with increasing frequency in outpatients. This chapter discusses the risk factors, etiology, classification, pathophysiology, natural history, prognosis, diagnosis (including venous thrombosis, recurrent venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism), prophylaxis, and treatment of venous thromboembolism (including the pharmacology of antithrombotic agents), as well as venous thromboembolism in pregnancy and miscellaneous thromboembolic disorders (including thrombosis of unusual sites).  This review contains 8 figures, 16 tables, and 79 references. Keywords: Venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, embolectomy, thrombolysis, hypercoagulability, duplex ultrasonography, D-dimer, anticoagulation


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Z. Goldhaber

Venous thromboembolism, which involves venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients and is being seen with increasing frequency in outpatients. This chapter discusses the risk factors, etiology, classification, pathophysiology, natural history, prognosis, diagnosis (including venous thrombosis, recurrent venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism), prophylaxis, and treatment of venous thromboembolism (including the pharmacology of antithrombotic agents), as well as venous thromboembolism in pregnancy and miscellaneous thromboembolic disorders (including thrombosis of unusual sites).  This review contains 8 figures, 16 tables, and 79 references. Keywords: Venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, embolectomy, thrombolysis, hypercoagulability, duplex ultrasonography, D-dimer, anticoagulation


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