Use of SimpliRED D-dimer assay and computerised tomography in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism
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Published on: June 2, 2015
Deepak Subedi1, Derek Bell, Marina J Brochwitz-Lewinski
1Specialist Registrar in Radiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA.
Background:
The utility of D-dimer in the diagnostic workup of pulmonary embolism has been established. Several D-dimer tests are available with different sensitivities and specificities. SimpliRED D-dimer is a rapid qualitative whole blood D-dimer assay suitable for bedside use.
Objective:
To assess the utility of the SimpliRED D-dimer test in patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism in the absence of formal 'risk scoring'.
Design:
A prospective study measuring SimpliRED D-dimer in unselected patients undergoing computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examination for suspected acute pulmonary embolism.
Main Outcome Measures:
D-dimer and CTPA results were compared. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of SimpliRED D-dimer were calculated for the unselected patient group.
Results:
Forty-seven patients underwent D-dimer testing and CTPA. SimpliRED D-dimer was positive in 23 and negative in 24 patients. D-dimer was positive in only 6 (50%) of the 12 patients with positive CTPA. Of the 35 with negative CTPA, 17 had positive D-dimer. The positive predictive value of the D-dimer was 26.1 % and the negative predictive value 75.0%.
Conclusion:
SimpliRED D-dimer should not be used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the absence of risk scoring.
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