title: D-Dimer predicts prognosis and non-resectability in patients with pancreatic cancer: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: To examine the impact of plasma D-dimer levels in predicting 3-year survival and nonresectability in pancreatic cancer patients. Ninety-five patients were divided into three groups according to plasma D-dimer levels. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and hazard ratios were computed, and diagnostic indices of D-dimer in the prediction of resectability were assessed. The median survival among patients with low, medium and high D-dimer levels was 13.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.2-19.6], 6.2 (95% CI: 2.0-15.1) and 2.4 months (95% CI: 1.4-3.3), respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio of death in the group of patients with high D-dimer levels was 2.2 (95% CI: 1.1-4.2). The positive and negative predictive values of D-dimer in the prediction of nonresectability were 89% (95% CI: 77-96%) and 48% (95% CI: 33- 63%), respectively. An elevated D-dimer level is associated with reduced survival in pancreatic cancer and predicts nonresectability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mogens T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Stender
authors.forename: Anders C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sall
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thorlacius-Ussing
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D