D-dimer value more than 3.6 μg/ml is highly possible existence deep vein thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to establish whether a more optimal cutoff value for D-dimer testing could definitively rule out acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT).


METHODS
Between April 2009 and March 2010, 190 referral patients suspected to have DVT were assessed by the D-dimer assay. Additionally, ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) imaging were performed to detect thrombosis.


RESULTS
DVT was identified in 47 patients (24%). The average D-dimer level in patients with DVT was 17.6±22.4 μg/ml, and was significantly lower (p=0.035),] at 2.7±4.2 μg/ml, in those without DVT. On the basis of receiver operating curve analysis, the specificity of the D-dimer for diagnosing DVT increased from 40% to 78.3%, and its sensitivity reached 93.8%, when the cutoff value for the assay was set at 3.6 μg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
D-dimer value over 3.6 μg/ml was highly prognostic for DVT.
Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine.
Shinichi
S
Nata
Shinichi
S
Hiromatsu
Yusuke
Y
Shintani
Tomokazu
T
Ohno
Hidetoshi
H
Akashi
Hiroyuki
H
Tanaka
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D