Variable D-dimer thresholds for diagnosis of clinically suspected acute pulmonary embolism

T. Van der Hulle*, P. L. Den Exter, P. G. M. Erkens, J. Van Es, I. C. M. Mos, H. Ten Cate, P. W. Kamphuisen, M. M. C. Hovens, H. R. Buller, F. A. Klok, M. V. Huisman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is frequently requested using diagnostic algorithms for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). For suspected deep vein thrombosis, it was recently shown that doubling the D-dimer threshold in patients with low pretest probability safely decreased the number of ultrasonograms. We evaluated the safety and efficiency of a similar strategy in patients with suspected PE. MethodsWe performed a post-hoc analysis of 2213 consecutive patients of two cohort studies with suspected PE who were managed according to current standards: PE ruled out in case of unlikely probability (Wells rule 4 points) and a D-dimer level
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1986-1992
JournalJournal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Volume11
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2013

Keywords

  • diagnoses
  • fibrin fibrinogen degradation products
  • multidetector computed tomography
  • prevalence
  • pulmonary embolism

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