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D-dimer levels in stable COPD patients: a case-control study

Denise Rossato Silva1, Ana Cláudia Coelho, Marcelo Basso Gazzana

  • 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. denise.rossato@terra.com.br

COPD
|May 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

D-dimer levels did not differ between stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and controls. Body mass index (BMI) showed a correlation with D-dimer levels in COPD patients, suggesting potential coagulation disturbances.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Hematology
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Elevated D-dimer levels are observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, regardless of venous thromboembolism.
  • The diagnostic utility of D-dimer testing in stable COPD remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if stable COPD patients exhibit a hypercoagulable state via basic laboratory investigations.
  • To examine the association between D-dimer levels, pulmonary function tests, and body mass index (BMI) in stable COPD.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design was employed, matching COPD patients with control subjects in a 2:1 ratio for age and sex.
  • D-dimer levels and pulmonary function tests were measured in both COPD patients and control groups.
  • Bivariate correlation analysis was used to assess relationships between variables.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant difference in median D-dimer levels was found between 58 COPD patients (0.24 ng/mL) and 30 controls (0.17 ng/mL).
  • A significant positive correlation was identified between BMI and D-dimer levels in the COPD cohort (r = 0.3, p = 0.024).

Conclusions:

  • D-dimer levels in stable COPD patients are comparable to those in healthy controls.
  • Elevated BMI may contribute to coagulation system disturbances in patients with stable COPD.
Abstract

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