Testing for D-dimer is useful in diagnosing venous thrombosis

Testing for D-dimer is useful in diagnosing venous thrombosis

Patients with suspected venous thrombosis who have normal compression ultrasonograms need repeat ultrasonography at 1 weekbefore the condition can be excluded. Repeat ultrasonography isalso needed to detect the few patients with proximally extending,potentially fatal, clots. On p 1037 Bernardi et al report prospectivelyon a large cohort of patients with suspected venous thrombosis.To enable a definite diagnosis at initial presentation, a rapidD-dimer test was used as an adjunct to a normal ultrasonogram.In almost 90% of patients with a normal ultrasonogram the D-dimertest result was also normal, no repeat ultrasound tests were done,no treatment was given, and long term follow up was uneventful.In patients with a normal ultrasonogram but abnormal D-dimer test,repeat ultrasonography was done at 1 week and showed extendedproximal vein thrombosis in 6% ofpatients.

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D-dimer testing as an adjunct to ultrasonography in patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis: prospective cohort study: Enrico Bernardi, Paolo Prandoni, Anthonie W A Lensing, Giancarlo Agnelli, Giuliana Guazzaloca, Gianluigi Scannapieco, Franco Piovella, Fabio Verlato, Cristina Tomasi, Marco Moia, Luigi Scarano, and Antonio Girolami
BMJ 1998 317: 1037-1040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]