title: High D-dimer levels at presentation in patients with venous thromboembolism is a marker of adverse clinical outcomes.
abstract: Qualitative D-dimer results, together with clinical probability scores, are well established in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The predictive value of quantitative D-dimer levels for various clinical outcomes in VTE patients is not fully understood. D-dimer levels obtained at presentation were analysed in 699 (360 men; 339 women) VTE patients for survival and occurrence of malignancy. Patients were followed for a median of 23 months. 17.2% patients had a D-dimer level >8000 ng FEU/mlat presentation, which was associated with decreased overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001) and event-free survival (EFS) (P < 0.001). 25.4% patients had malignancy and 4% subsequently developed malignancy following VTE. 29.9% of patients with VTE and malignancy had a D-dimer level >8 mg/l when compared with 13.4% of patients with VTE without malignancy (P < 0.001). 50% of patients who developed subsequent malignancy following VTE had a presentation D-dimer >8000 ng FEU/mlas compared with 13.3% of patients with VTE with out malignancy (P = 0.009). In conclusion, D-dimer >8000 ng FEU/ml at presentation in patients with VTE is a marker of poor OS, EFS and underlying malignancy. Consideration of screening for malignancy is recommended in patients with VTE with a presentation D-dimer >8000 ng FEU/ml and age >60 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Warwick Hospital, Warwick, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paneesha
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheyne
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacchu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D