title: Evaluation of a new, rapid, and quantitative D-Dimer test in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested the utility of D-Dimer ELISA assays in eliminating a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). Our objectives were to evaluate the performance of a new, rapid, quantitative, and automated Liatest D-Dimer Assay in patients with suspected PE. Three hundred eighty-six consecutive patients referred to our institution between March 1992 and December 1996 for clinically suspected PE, with recent clinical signs not exceeding 1 wk, were included in this study. Diagnosis of PE was based on clinical evaluation, radionuclide lung imaging, lower limb examination, and, when required, pulmonary angiography. D-Dimer performances, for both Liatest D-Dimer and standard D-Dimer ELISA (Asserachrom DDi), assays, were assessed at the end of the study. Among the 386 patients tested, 146 (37.8%) were classified as PE-positive. Liatest D-Dimer assay had a 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 97 to 100%) and a negative predictive value of 100% (95% confidence interval, 94 to 100%). A normal result, below the cutoff of 500 ng/ml, occurred in 83 of the 386 (21%) patients. There was a strong agreement between Liatest D-Dimer and Asserachrom DDi analyses. These findings suggest that this rapid, quantitative, and automated D-Dimer assay provides a useful diagnostic tool for the clinician with regard to exclusion of PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Department of Radiology, Department of Biophysics, and Department of Haematology, CHRU de la Cavale Blanche, Brest Cedex, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leroyer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bressollette
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nonent
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Moigne
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bizais
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amiral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimaux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clavier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ill
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Abgrall
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mottier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products