title: D-dimer levels correlate with mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: Findings from the RIETE registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have addressed the prognostic implications of D-dimer in patients with pulmonary embolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between D-dimer levels and mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospitals participating in the Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad Tromboembólica (RIETE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 588 consecutive patients with symptomatic pulmonary embolism who were included in the RIETE between March 2001 and December 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative D-dimer measurement was performed on admission using an automated latex agglutination test (IL Test D-dimer). All patients underwent clinical follow-up for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall mortality rate was 10.5%. The cause of death was pulmonary embolism in 18 patients (3.0%), fatal bleeding in one patient (0.2%), and other causes in 43 patients (7.3%). There were 28 (4.8%) nonfatal venous thromboembolism recurrences and 35 (6.0%) nonfatal bleeding episodes. The incidence of D-dimer 500-2499 ng/mL, D-dimer 2500-4999 ng/mL, and D-dimer >or=5000 ng/mL was 47.8%, 26.0%, and 20.4%, respectively. Compared with patients with D-dimer 500-2499 ng/mL, the relative risk (odds ratio) of overall mortality was 1.91 (95% confidence interval 0.91-4.09) and 2.94 (95% confidence interval 1.42-6.25) in patients with D-dimer 2500-4999 ng/mL and D-dimer >or= 5000 ng/mL, respectively (p = .032). Patients with D-dimer >or=5000 ng/mL showed higher risk of death from fatal pulmonary embolism (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval 0.5-33.0) than death from other causes (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 0.7-6.0). Elevated D-dimer levels were associated with more severe disease, as assessed by clinical features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients who present with pulmonary embolism, D-dimer concentration is an independent predictive factor associated with all-cause and pulmonary embolism-related death. D-dimer >or=5000 ng/mL occurs in about one in five patients and is associated with a 2.9-fold increased risk of overall mortality. These results suggest that D-dimer quantification could be a useful biomarker and help determine initial therapies.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hematología Hospital Lluís Alcanyís, Xativa, Valencia, Pamplona. grau_enr@gva.es
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tenías
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: María Reyes
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lecumberri
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tiberio
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002423:Cause of Death; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D