Plasma DNA. A simple, rapid test for aiding the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

Previously, we reported that the sensitivity of plasma DNA for patients with pulmonary emboli was 83 to 88 percent. To confirm these findings in a more comprehensive study, we collected plasma samples from 137 consecutive patients undergoing 148 ventilation-perfusion lung scans for pulmonary embolism. DNA was measured using a counter-immunoelectrophoresis technique that used high titer precipitating double-stranded DNA antibody from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition to 17 patients (17 lung scans) excluded for not having plasma collected, 32 patients (37 lung scans) were excluded for having either a condition other than pulmonary embolism that could be associated with plasma DNA or for having nonacute symptoms. Eighteen of 22 patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (defined by either a high probability lung scan or abnormal pulmonary angiogram) had detectable plasma DNA. Only four of 27 patients without pulmonary embolism (defined by either a normal lung scan or normal pulmonary angiogram) had plasma DNA detected. Based on these results, plasma DNA had a sensitivity of 82 percent and a specificity of 85 percent for this condition. Plasma DNA is a promising test for pulmonary embolism and could help physicians interpret equivocal lung scan findings and thereby clarify difficult decisions such as the need for pulmonary angiography.