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[Relationship between D-dimer and systemic embolism in patients with infective endocarditis]
Ruken Bengi Bakal1, Süleyman Karakoyun, Gökhan Kahveci
1Department of Cardiology, Kartal Koşuyolu Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. ruken_bakal@yahoo.com.
Summary
Plasma D-dimer (DD) levels are elevated in infective endocarditis (IE) patients with systemic embolism. A DD level above 425 ng/dl may help predict embolism risk in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection of the heart valves.
- Systemic embolism is a major complication of IE, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.
- Predictive markers for systemic embolism in IE are crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose:
- To investigate the utility of plasma D-dimer (DD) levels in predicting systemic embolism in patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE).
Summary:
- This study evaluated 42 IE patients, finding elevated plasma DD levels in those with systemic embolism (p=0.016).
- A D-dimer threshold of >425 ng/dl showed a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 62% for predicting clinical embolism (AUC=0.735).
- Plasma DD levels correlated with hematocrit, platelet count, albumin, and globulin levels.
Impact:
- Plasma D-dimer levels can serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying IE patients at higher risk of systemic embolism.
- These findings may guide clinical decision-making and risk stratification in infective endocarditis management.
- Further research is warranted to explore the predictive value of DD for subclinical embolic events.
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