title: Predictive value of D-dimer test for recurrent venous thromboembolism after anticoagulation withdrawal in subjects with a previous idiopathic event and in carriers of congenital thrombophilia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have shown that normal D-dimer levels obtained after the discontinuation of oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT) has a high negative predictive value for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of D-dimer for recurrent VTE in subjects with a previous unprovoked event who are either carriers of inherited thrombophilia or not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We prospectively evaluated 599 patients (301 males) with a previous VTE episode. They were repeatedly examined for D-dimer levels after OAT withdrawal and were screened for inherited thrombophilic alterations. Alterations were detected in 130 patients (21.7%), factor V Leiden (70 patients; 2 of whom were homozygotes) and prothrombin mutation (38 patients) were the most prevalent ones. Recurrent events were recorded in 58 subjects (9.7%) during a follow-up of 870.7 patient-years. Altered D-dimer levels at 1 month after OAT withdrawal were associated with a higher rate of subsequent recurrence in all subjects investigated, especially in those with an unprovoked qualifying VTE event (hazard ratio, 2.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 4.61) and in those with thrombophilia (hazard ratio, 8.34; 95% confidence interval, 2.72 to 17.43). The higher relative risk for recurrence of altered D-dimer was confirmed by multivariate analysis after adjustment for other risk factors. The negative predictive value of D-dimer was 92.9% and 95.8% in subjects with an unprovoked qualifying event or with thrombophilia, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  D-dimer levels measured 1 month after OAT withdrawal have a high negative predictive value for recurrence in subjects with unprovoked VTE who are either carriers or not carriers of congenital thrombophilia.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Angiologia, Unità Ricerca Clinica sulla Trombofilia Marino Golinelli, University Hospital S Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy. palareti@tin.it
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palareti
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Legnani
authors.forename: Benilde
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cosmi
authors.forename: Lelia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valdré
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lunghi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coccheri
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D