title: Plasma DNA in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
abstract: To assess the diagnostic value of measuring free plasma deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism, we prospectively assayed the plasma of 40 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary angiography for the presence of free plasma DNA. Fifteen of them had angiographic evidence of pulmonary embolism. Of these 15 only two (13%) had a positive result in the test for free double-stranded plasma DNA. We concluded that measuring free double-stranded plasma DNA is of no value in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA