Fibrin D-dimer: a marker of psychosocial distress and its implications for research in stress-related coronary artery disease.
Psychosocial factors might mediate their adverse impact on coronary arteries by eliciting a hypercoagulable state via changes in sympathetic nervous system activity. A recent meta-analysis of prospective studies reported an association of the hypercoagulability marker D-dimer with an increased risk for coronary events. This review provides evidence that an elevated plasma D-dimer level is a suitable marker for acute and chronic psychosocial distress. Prospective studies need to show whether stress-related changes in D-dimer may help explain the increased coronary risk with psychosocial distress.
von Känel
Roland
R
Institute for Behavioral Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland. roland.vonkaenel@ifu.gess.ethz.ch
Dimsdale
Joel E
JE
D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D