title: Performance of a new fibrin monomer assay to exclude deep vein thrombosis in symptomatic outpatients.
abstract: In this study we prospectively assessed the reliability of a new fibrin monomer assay in 106 outpatients with clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis of the lower limb. According to the results of the objective tests and using different cut-off points we calculated the sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the fibrin monomer assay. The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis was 44.3% (31.1% proximal, 13.2% distal). Using a cut-off level of plasma fibrin monomer of 3.5 microg/ml, a sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI: 94-100%), 35.6% (95% CI: 23-48%) and 100% (95% CI: 86-100%), respectively, were obtained. The exclusion rate was 19.8% (95% CI: 12-27%) of all referred patients. These accuracy indices compared favourably with the respective results of a routine D-dimer ELISA used for comparison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new fibrin monomer assay appears to be a reliable method for the exclusion of deep vein thrombosis in symptomatic outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Central Hematology Laboratory, University Hospital, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caliezi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fünfsinn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mauron
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sulzer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cottier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demarmels Biasiutti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lämmle
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wuillemin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001681:Biological Assay; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000175:diagnosis*