title: Plasma D-dimer as a predictor of the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: Essentials D-dimer could provide important information about abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression. The greatest diameter of the infrarenal aorta and the value of plasma D-dimer were determined. AAA progression is correlated with increasing plasma D-dimer levels. The increasing value of plasma D-dimer could be a predictor of aneurysm progression.
  
  
  
  Background The natural course of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is mostly asymptomatic and unpredictable. D-dimer could provide potentially important information about subsequent AAA progression. Objectives The aims of this study were to establish the relationship between the progression of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and plasma D-dimer concentration over a 12-month period and determine the value of plasma D-dimer in patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation. Patients/Methods This was a prospective observational study that involved 33 patients with an AAA, 30 patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation and 30 control subjects. The greatest diameter of the infrarenal aorta, which was assessed by ultrasound, and the value of plasma D-dimer were determined for all subjects at baseline assessment, as well as after 12 months for those with an AAA. Results A positive correlation was found between the diameter of an AAA and plasma D-dimer concentration at the baseline and the control measurement stages. There was a strong positive correlation between AAA progression and increasing plasma D-dimer concentration over a 12-month period. Among patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation (n = 30), the value of plasma D-dimer was higher compared with matched controls (n = 30). Conclusions There is a strongly positive correlation between AAA progression and increasing plasma D-dimer concentration. The value of plasma D-dimer is higher in patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation than in control subjects.
authors: Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital 'Dr. Safet Mujic', Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Vele
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Center 'Plava Poliklinika', Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kurtcehajic
authors: Department of Medical Sciences, The Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.|Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Zerem
authors: Department of Radiology, University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Maskovic
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Alibegovic
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Center 'Plava Poliklinika', Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hujdurovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018401:Sample Size
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D
keywords: D-dimer; abdominal aorta; abdominal aortic aneurysm; biological markers; dilatation; pathologic