title: Prediction of pulmonary embolism extent by clinical findings, D-dimer level and deep vein thrombosis shown by ultrasound.
abstract: Pulmonary embolism (PE) may encompass a wide spectrum of severity. To determine whether clinical findings, D-dimer (DD) concentration, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) shown by lower-limb venous compression ultrasonography (US) might predict the scintigraphic extent of PE, we studied 104 hemodynamically stable consecutive outpatients with acute PE diagnosed by a high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan. Scintigraphic extent of PE was classified into three categories: perfusion defects corresponding to <30%, 30-50%, or >50% of the total lung area. Median respiratory and heart rates were found to be significantly related to the extent of PE. Higher median alveolar-arterial oxygen difference values were observed as the proportion of lung perfusion defects increased (>50% vs. <30%, 6.3 vs. 3.6 kPa, P <.0001). Median plasma DD concentration was 7950 microg/L in patients with >50% perfusion defects compared to 2731 microg/L in those with <30% defects (P = .0001). DD levels above 4000 microg/L were associated to more extensive perfusion defects (>50% vs. <30% defects, OR 30; 95% CI 5.8-155). Finally, a proximal DVT was more likely among patients with larger perfusion defects (>50% vs. <30% defects, OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.5-13.6). In conclusion, clinical signs such as tachypnea and tachycardia, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, plasma DD concentration, and presence of DVT on US are predictors of a larger PE, as assessed by the extent of perfusion defects on high probability lung scans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Angiology and Hemostasis, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galle
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Papazyan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slosman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bounameaux
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D