Excluding venous thromboembolism using point of care D-dimer tests in outpatients: a diagnostic meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To review the evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of the currently available point of care D-dimer tests for excluding venous thromboembolism.


METHODS
Systematic review of research on the accuracy of point of care D-dimer tests, using bivariate regression to examine sources of variation and to estimate sensitivity and specificity.


METHODS
Studies on the diagnostic accuracy of point of care D-dimer tests published between January 1995 and September 2008 and available in either Medline or Embase. Review methods The analysis included studies that compared point of care D-dimer tests with predefined reference criteria for venous thromboembolism, enrolled consecutive outpatients, and allowed for construction of a 2x2 table.


RESULTS
23 studies (total number of patients 13 959, range in mean age 38-65 years, range of venous thromboembolism prevalence 4-51%) were included in the meta-analysis. The studies reported two qualitative point of care D-dimer tests (SimpliRED D-dimer (n=12) and Clearview Simplify D-dimer (n=7)) and two quantitative point of care D-dimer tests (Cardiac D-dimer (n=4) and Triage D-dimer (n=2)). Overall sensitivity ranged from 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 0.90) to 0.96 (0.91 to 0.98) and overall specificity from 0.48 (0.33 to 0.62) to 0.74 (0.69 to 0.78). The two quantitative tests Cardiac D-dimer and Triage D-dimer scored most favourably.


CONCLUSIONS
In outpatients suspected of venous thromboembolism, point of care D-dimer tests can contribute important information and guide patient management, notably in low risk patients (that is, those patients with a low score on a clinical decision rule).
Geersing
G J
GJ
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.j.geersing@umcutrecht.nl
Janssen
K J M
KJ
Oudega
R
R
Bax
L
L
Hoes
A W
AW
Reitsma
J B
JB
Moons
K G M
KG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis*
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D
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