title: Role of D-dimer in the Development of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Liver Cirrhosis: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A meta-analysis was performed to explore the role of the D-dimer in the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  All papers were searched via PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, and VIP databases. A standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was pooled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 284 studies were initially identified, of which 21 were included. Cirrhotic patients with PVT had a significantly higher D-dimer concentration than those without PVT (pooled SMD = 1.249, 95%CI = 0.740-1.758). After the portal hypertension-related surgery, cirrhotic patients with PVT had a similar preoperative D-dimer concentration to those without PVT (pooled SMD = 0.820, 95%CI = -0.122-0.286), but a higher postoperative value of D-dimer concentration than those without PVT (pooled SMD = 2.505, 95%CI = 0.975-4.036). Notably, the D-dimer concentration at the 1 st postoperative day was similar between cirrhotic patients with and without PVT (pooled SMD = 0.137, 95%CI = -0.827-1.101), but that at the 7 th post-operative day was higher in cirrhotic patients with PVT than in those without PVT (pooled SMD = 1.224, 95%CI = 0.277-2.171).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  D-dimer might be regarded as a diagnostic marker for PVT in liver cirrhosis. In addition, postoperative D-dimer testing is worthwhile for the diagnosis of PVT after portal hypertension-related surgery.
authors.forename: Junna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Liver Cirrhosis Study Group, Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Xingshun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Liver Cirrhosis Study Group, Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Liver Cirrhosis Study Group, Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D