title: Aortic dissection and elevated D-dimers--an important clinical link.
abstract: A 73-year-old woman with previous coronary artery bypass grafting presented with acute pleuritic type chest pain, decreased oxygen saturations and markedly elevated D-dimers. Acute pulmonary embolism was suspected and because of hypotension an emergency transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to assess pulmonary hypertension. This revealed an acute type A aortic dissection. This case highlights the importance of transthoracic echocardiography as a simple noninvasive tool in the evaluation of chest pain. It also highlights more importantly the relationship of acute aortic dissection and elevated D-dimers which is of tremendous significance to the practising clinician when it comes to patient care and safety.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kiernan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D