title: [Prospective study of determining the value of D-dimer in diagnosing pulmonary embolism].
abstract: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is still misdiagnosed in a high proportion of cases. 107 patients admitted for suspected pulmonary embolism were studied prospectively to shed light on the value of ELISA-D-dimer and Latex-D-dimer. Pulmonary embolism was ruled out by negative perfusion scans in 66 patients (61.7%) and by angiography in 24 patients. 58% of the scans suggesting a high probability of PE were confirmed by angiography, but only 18% of the scans suggesting a low or intermediate probability of PE. Sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 79%, respectively for the D-dimer ELISA, versus 94% and 90% for the Latex agglutination test. The Latex test increased the positive predictive value of lung scanning suggesting low to intermediate probability of PE (group B) from 18% to 75% and that of lung scanning suggesting high probability of PE (group C) from 58% to 93%. The positive predictive value was improved by ELISA-D-dimer in both groups to 75%. In order to augment the diagnostic efficacy in clinical practice the determination of Latex-D-dimer simultaneously with lung scanning is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Interne Abteilung, Kardinal Schwarzenberg'schen Krankenhauses, Schwarzach.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenzhofer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wimmer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haydl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kardeis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ganzinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nowak-Sattelberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D
vernacular_title: Prospektive Untersuchung zur Erfassung der Wertigkeit von D-Dimer in der Pulmonalembolie-(PE)-Diagnostik.