title: Reference intervals of D-dimer during the pregnancy and puerperium period on the STA-R evolution coagulation analyzer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnant women are at a hyper-coagulable state with a higher risk of deep venous thromboembolism (VTE) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which could be life threatening. We established gestational age-specific reference intervals for D-dimer, and estimate the role of D-dimer test in ruling out VTE and DIC in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We followed 1343 healthy pregnant women and 1042 uncomplicated postpartum women to establish gestational age-specific reference intervals of D-dimer during normal pregnancy. Eighty uncomplicated non-pregnant women were chosen as control group. D-dimer testing was also performed among the patients with pregnancy-related complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  D-dimer concentration increased progressively during the pregnancy and peaked at the first postpartum day, and then it began to decrease steadily and reach to non-pregnant concentrations on the 42nd postpartum day. The results of several cases that had clinical suspicion of VTE were compared with those of the reference group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides reference intervals of D-dimer during the pregnancy and postpartum period for women of Chinese Han ethnicity using latex-based immunoturbidimetry on the STA-R evolution coagulation analyzer. Further studies are needed to validate these reference ranges and assess the clinical utility of the reference intervals for D-dimer.
authors: Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Xueshi Road #2, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Shiming
authors: S
authors: Lu
authors: Shuai
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Fengxian
authors: F
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D
keywords: D-dimer; Postpartum; Pregnancy; Reference interval; Venous thromboembolism