title: [Role of D-dimers in the diagnosis of thromboembolic disease].
abstract: The presence of D-dimers in the bloodstream is secondary to fibrin formation and lysis. Because fibrin is the main component of a thrombus, deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism may be excluded with a predictive value of more than 95%, provided D-dimer plasma concentration is below a critical, assay-dependent cutoff. The D-dimer test is thus an ideal screening step in outpatients clinically suspected of venous thromboembolism. Only ELISA tests have been validated in clinical practice at present time for this indication, sensitivity of latex assays being insufficient.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine interne, hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, Suisse.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bounameaux
mesh_terms: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D
vernacular_title: Place des D-dimères dans la démarche diagnostique de la maladie thromboembolique.