The Correlation Between the D-Dimer Values and Anatomical Distribution of Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) represents a life-threatening medical emergency that, given the serious complications, requires urgent application of anticoagulant therapy. In addition to other factors that are taken into account when choosing a therapy for treatment of PE, the anatomical distribution of thrombi is also considered-whether it is a central, lobar, segmental or subsegmental PE. D-dimer is an intermediate product of degradation of fibrin molecules and its values in the plasma are increased in the case of PE, but also in other diseases.

To determine whether there is a difference in D-dimer values in subjects with different anatomical distribution of PE.

The study included 100 subjects with diagnosed PE by using MSCT and/or V/P SPECT and with measured values of D-dimer.

Out of 100 subjects, PE was not diagnosed in 37 subjects, while 63 subjects PE was diagnosed. All subjects with diagnosed PE were divided into 3 groups regarding the anatomical localization of thrombus: lobar, segmental or subsegmental. Average D-dimer values were calculated for all 3 groups. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in D-dimer values between subjects with different anatomical distribution of PE.

There is no significant difference in D-dimer values between subjects with different anatomical distribution od PE-lobar, segmental and subsegmental PE.