title: Fibrin d-dimer concentration, deep vein thrombosis symptom duration, and venous thrombus volume.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the relationship between fibrin D-dimer levels, symptom duration, and thrombus volume, consecutive patients with incident deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study design, patient symptom onset was determined by careful patient questioning. Venous thrombosis was confirmed by compression duplex ultrasonography. Thrombus volume was estimated based on patient's femur length using a forensic anthropology method. Fibrin D-dimer was measured by latex immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  72 consecutive patients with confirmed leg DVT agreed to participate. The median symptom duration at the time of diagnosis was 10 days. The median D-dimer concentration was 1050 ng/dL. The median thrombus volume was 12.92 cm(3). D-Dimer levels correlated with estimated thrombus volume (P < .0006 CI 0.12-0.41; R(2) (adjusted) = .15) but not symptom duration, patient's age, or gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite varying symptom duration prior to diagnosis, fibrin D-dimer remains a sensitive measure of venous thrombosis and correlates with thrombus volume.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kurklinsky
authors.forename: Henna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalsi
authors.forename: Waldemar E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Wysokinski
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Mauck
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhagra
authors.forename: Rachel D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Havyer
authors.forename: Carrie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Sharonne N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: McBane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D