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Plasma D-dimer concentration in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Giuseppe Lippi1, Alessandro Volpe, Paola Caramaschi
1Istituto di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy. ulippi@tin.it
Thrombosis Journal
|January 20, 2006
Summary
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, particularly those with the diffuse subset, show elevated plasma D-dimer levels. This indicates a potential prothrombotic state, suggesting an increased risk for thrombotic complications in this group.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Hematology
- Immunology
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease marked by vascular damage and fibrosis.
- The role of hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems in SSc pathogenesis remains unclear, with conflicting preliminary data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential prothrombotic condition in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.
- To assess plasma D-dimer levels as a marker for hemostatic system activation in SSc.
Main Methods:
- Plasma D-dimer levels were measured in 28 SSc patients and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- SSc patients were stratified by disease subset (limited vs. diffuse cutaneous pattern).
Main Results:
- SSc patients exhibited significantly higher plasma D-dimer levels compared to controls (362 ng/mL vs. 229 ng/mL).
- Elevated D-dimer levels were specifically pronounced in SSc patients with the diffuse cutaneous pattern.
- No correlation was found between D-dimer levels and clinical factors like age, sex, autoantibodies, or organ involvement.
Conclusions:
- SSc patients, especially those with the diffuse subset, demonstrate increased plasma D-dimer.
- This finding suggests activation of hemostatic and fibrinolytic cascades, potentially increasing thrombotic risk.
- Further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of these prothrombotic changes in SSc.