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D-dimer plasma levels in NSTE-ACS patient
Nisarat Charoensri1, Suwatchai Pornratanarangsi
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Summary
Plasma D-dimer levels correlate with the extent of coronary artery disease in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients. Elevated D-dimer indicates more severe obstruction and predicts in-hospital cardiovascular complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) involves plaque rupture, leading to thrombogenesis and myocardial injury.
- Plasma D-dimer, a fibrin degradation product, serves as a marker of fibrinolysis during coronary artery occlusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma D-dimer levels and the severity of coronary artery obstruction in non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) patients.
- Severity was assessed using angiographic data, including the number of affected coronary arteries and degree of lumen stenosis.
Main Methods:
- 74 NSTE-ACS patients were enrolled, with exclusions for conditions elevating D-dimer unrelated to NSTE-ACS.
- Plasma D-dimer levels were measured, and coronary angiography was performed to evaluate stenosis severity.
Main Results:
- D-dimer levels significantly increased with the number of coronary arteries affected (p=0.03).
- A trend for increased D-dimer was observed with higher percentages of coronary artery stenosis (p=0.30).
- Plasma D-dimer correlated with NSTE-ACS complications (heart failure, arrhythmia, death) and was higher in patients treated with CABG.
Conclusions:
- Plasma D-dimer is a valuable marker for assessing the extent of coronary artery involvement in NSTE-ACS.
- D-dimer may predict in-hospital cardiovascular complications in these patients.
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