The Correlation Between the D-Dimer Values and Anatomical Distribution of Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary Embolism (PE) represents a life-threatening medical emergency that, given the serious complications, requires urgent application of anticoagulant therapy. In addition to other factors that are taken into account when choosing a therapy for treatment of PE, the anatomical distribution of thrombi is also considered–whether it is a central, lobar, segmental or subsegmental PE. D-dimer is an intermediate product of degradation of fibrin molecules and its values in the plasma are increased in the case of PE, but also in other diseases. Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in D-dimer values in subjects with different anatomical distribution of PE. Methods: The study included 100 subjects with diagnosed PE by using MSCT and/or V/P SPECT and with measured values of D-dimer. Results: Out of 100 subjects, PE was not diagnosed in 37 subjects, while 63 subjects PE was diagnosed. All subjects with diagnosed PE were divided into 3 groups regarding the anatomical localization of thrombus: lobar, segmental or subsegmental. Average D-dimer values were calculated for all 3 groups. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in D-dimer values between subjects with different anatomical distribution of PE. Conclusion: There is no significant difference in D-dimer values between subjects with different anatomical distribution od PE–lobar, segmental and subsegmental PE.