D-dimer level in COVID-19 infection: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Hematology
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• COVID-19 has caused a global pandemic since December 2019.
• Early COVID-19 stages show signs of activated coagulation, including high D-dimer, prolonged prothrombin time (PT), and elevated fibrinogen.
• These markers suggest an increased risk of thrombosis in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze D-dimer levels in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
• To investigate the association between D-dimer levels and COVID-19 prognosis.
• To evaluate the utility of D-dimer measurement in managing COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of three major databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Extraction of data including study location, sample size, demographics, coagulation test values, patient outcomes, and disease severity.
• Analysis of D-dimer levels as a key indicator of coagulation activation.

Main Results:

• Elevated D-dimer and fibrinogen levels are observed in the early stages of COVID-19.
• A 3 to 4-fold increase in D-dimer levels is associated with a poorer prognosis.
• Pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, stroke, and pregnancy can also elevate D-dimer in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

• D-dimer is a significant biomarker for detecting thrombosis in COVID-19 patients.
• Early monitoring of D-dimer and coagulation parameters aids in disease management and prognosis.
• Measuring D-dimer levels is valuable for risk stratification and clinical decision-making in COVID-19 care.