title: The utility of D-dimer levels in screening for thromboembolic complications in burn patients.
abstract: Recent studies confirm that thromboembolic complications in burn patients are higher than previously reported. Swelling, pain, and erythema are not useful indicators of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in burned extremities. We propose that D-dimer levels may be useful in determining which patients would benefit from further screening for DVT. Thirty adult hospitalized burn patients were screened for DVT with duplex ultrasound on admission and then weekly until discharge. D-dimer levels were measured at the same intervals. Seven patients developed 11 cases of DVT. The mean time to DVT diagnosis was 6.7 days. D-dimer levels were elevated in 86% of DVT patients at week 1, with a negative predictive value of 94%. The evaluation of elevated D-dimer levels at week 1 may be a useful screening tool for detecting DVT in the burn population.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Burn Center, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0033, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: Mary-Margaret
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahrns
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Corpron
authors.forename: Glen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000097:blood*; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D