D-dimer in acute aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
Laboratory testing plays a minor role in the assessment of aortic dissection. Its main value is in the exclusion of other diseases. Following an incidental observation, we systematically investigated the relationship between elevated d-dimer levels and acute aortic dissection.


METHODS
We prospectively tested d-dimer levels in patients with suspected acute aortic dissection (10 patients). In addition, we investigated 14 patients who had received a confirmed diagnosis of thoracic aortic dissection during the previous 5 years, in whom d-dimer testing had been performed for differential diagnosis. Thirty-five patients with acute chest pain of other origin served as a control group.


METHODS
Tertiary referral hospital.


METHODS
Twelve patients had type A dissection (Stanford classification), and 12 patients had type B.


RESULTS
A d-dimer analysis was performed (Tina-quant assay; Roche Diagnostics; Mannheim, Germany) [normal limit of the assay, 0.5 micro g/mL]. The result of the d-dimer test was positive (ie, > 0.5 micro g/mL) in all patients (sensitivity of the test, 100%) with a mean value of 9.4 micro g/mL and a range of 0.63 to 54.7 micro g/mL. The degree of the elevation was correlated to the delay from the onset of symptoms to laboratory testing (mean, 12.6 h; range, 1 to 120 h) and showed a trend to the extent of the dissection, but not to the outcome (14 patients could be discharged; 10 patients died).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our observation, we suggest that testing for d-dimer should be part of the initial assessment of patients with chest pain, especially if aortic dissection is suspected. A negative test result makes the presence of the disease unlikely.
Cardiology Department, General Hospital of the Barmherzigen Schwestern, Wels, Austria. webertom@aon.at
Thomas
T
Weber
Sonja
S
Högler
Johann
J
Auer
Robert
R
Berent
Elisabeth
E
Lassnig
Erich
E
Kvas
Bernd
B
Eber
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; 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
D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D