D-dimer testing: A narrative review

L. Wauthier; J. Favresse; M. Hardy; J. Douxfils; G. Le Gal; P. M. Roy; N. van Es; C. Ay; H. ten Cate; T. Lecompte; G. Lippi; F. Mullier

doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2023.02.006

D-dimer testing: A narrative review

L. Wauthier, J. Favresse, M. Hardy, J. Douxfils, G. Le Gal, P. M. Roy, N. van Es, C. Ay, H. ten Cate, T. Lecompte, G. Lippi, F. Mullier^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic

Abstract

D-dimer containing species are soluble fibrin degradation products derived from plasmin-mediated degradation of cross-linked fibrin, i.e., ‘D-dimer’. D-dimer can hence be considered a biomarker of in vivo activation of both coagulation and fibrinolysis, the leading clinical application in daily practice of which is ruling out venous thromboembolism (VTE). D-dimer has been further evaluated for assessing the risk of VTE recurrence and helping define optimal duration of anticoagulation treatment in VTE, for diagnosing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and for screening those at enhanced risk of VTE. D-dimer assays should however be performed as intended by regulatory agencies, as their use outside these indications might make them a laboratory-developed test (LDT). This narrative review is aimed at: (1) reviewing the definition of D-dimer, (2) discussing preanalytical variables affecting D-dimer measurement, (3) reviewing and comparing the assays performance and some postanalytical variables (e.g., different units and age-adjusted cutoffs), and (4) discussing the interest of D-dimer measurement across different clinical settings, including pregnancy, cancer, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in Clinical Chemistry
Editors	Gregory S. Makowski
Publisher	Academic Press Inc.
Chapter	5
Pages	151-223
Number of pages	73
Volume	114
Edition	1
ISBN (Print)	9780443192883
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.acc.2023.02.006
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2023

Publication series

Series	Advances in Clinical Chemistry
Volume	114
ISSN	0065-2423

Keywords

Acute aortic syndrome (AAS)
Analytic
Cancer
COVID-19
D-dimer
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Postanalytic
Preanalytic
Pregnancy
Venous thromboembolism

Access to Document

10.1016/bs.acc.2023.02.006

Cite this

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title = "D-dimer testing: A narrative review",

abstract = "D-dimer containing species are soluble fibrin degradation products derived from plasmin-mediated degradation of cross-linked fibrin, i.e., {\textquoteleft}D-dimer{\textquoteright}. D-dimer can hence be considered a biomarker of in vivo activation of both coagulation and fibrinolysis, the leading clinical application in daily practice of which is ruling out venous thromboembolism (VTE). D-dimer has been further evaluated for assessing the risk of VTE recurrence and helping define optimal duration of anticoagulation treatment in VTE, for diagnosing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and for screening those at enhanced risk of VTE. D-dimer assays should however be performed as intended by regulatory agencies, as their use outside these indications might make them a laboratory-developed test (LDT). This narrative review is aimed at: (1) reviewing the definition of D-dimer, (2) discussing preanalytical variables affecting D-dimer measurement, (3) reviewing and comparing the assays performance and some postanalytical variables (e.g., different units and age-adjusted cutoffs), and (4) discussing the interest of D-dimer measurement across different clinical settings, including pregnancy, cancer, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).",

keywords = "Acute aortic syndrome (AAS), Analytic, Cancer, COVID-19, D-dimer, Disseminated intravascular coagulation, Postanalytic, Preanalytic, Pregnancy, Venous thromboembolism",

author = "L. Wauthier and J. Favresse and M. Hardy and J. Douxfils and {Le Gal}, G. and Roy, {P. M.} and {van Es}, N. and C. Ay and {ten Cate}, H. and T. Lecompte and G. Lippi and F. Mullier",

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AU - Douxfils, J.

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AU - Roy, P. M.

AU - van Es, N.

AU - Ay, C.

AU - ten Cate, H.

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KW - Preanalytic

KW - Pregnancy

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