title: Considerable differences between methods for plasma D-dimer in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis: increased positive prediction using elevated discriminatory limits.
abstract: Four analytical methods for plasma D-dimer have been compared in a group of 82 consecutive patients with suspected venous thrombosis, 22 of whom subsequently received a positive clinical diagnosis. Differences in diagnostic power between methods were observed. In three of the four methods tested, the use of elevated discriminatory limits (rather than conventional 95-percentile upper reference limits) resulted in stronger positive predictive values for thromboembolism. We suggest that this approach may result in better diagnostic performance of the D-dimer method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Varberg Hospital, Varberg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Björk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: von Schenck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; C036309:fibrin fragment D