title: D-dimer is elevated in acute aortic dissection.
abstract: This case illustrates that d-dimer is elevated in patients with acute aortic dissection. A 49-year-old woman presented with central, crushing chest pain exacerbated on inspiration. The chest pain was associated with right-leg numbness and pain, although peripheral pulses and blood pressures were normal. Routine bloods demonstrated an elevated d-dimer with a normal ECG and chest x-ray radiograph. A differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and acute aortic dissection was made. CT-angiogram showed type B aortic dissection. This case report highlights the mounting evidence that d-dimer is elevated in practically all incidents of aortic dissection and could be useful as a negative predictive marker.
authors: Acute Medical Unit, Ealing Hospital, London, UK. thomas.martin@cantab.net
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Martin
authors: Sohail
authors: S
authors: Shariq
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000097:blood*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D