Evaluation of a new, rapid, and quantitative D-Dimer test in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
; 158(1): 65-70, 1998 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9655708
ABSTRACT
Previous studies have suggested the utility of D-Dimer ELISA assays in eliminating a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). Our objectives were to evaluate the performance of a new, rapid, quantitative, and automated Liatest D-Dimer Assay in patients with suspected PE. Three hundred eighty-six consecutive patients referred to our institution between March 1992 and December 1996 for clinically suspected PE, with recent clinical signs not exceeding 1 wk, were included in this study. Diagnosis of PE was based on clinical evaluation, radionuclide lung imaging, lower limb examination, and, when required, pulmonary angiography. D-Dimer performances, for both Liatest D-Dimer and standard D-Dimer ELISA (Asserachrom DDi), assays, were assessed at the end of the study. Among the 386 patients tested, 146 (37.8%) were classified as PE-positive. Liatest D-Dimer assay had a 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 97 to 100%) and a negative predictive value of 100% (95% confidence interval, 94 to 100%). A normal result, below the cutoff of 500 ng/ml, occurred in 83 of the 386 (21%) patients. There was a strong agreement between Liatest D-Dimer and Asserachrom DDi analyses. These findings suggest that this rapid, quantitative, and automated D-Dimer assay provides a useful diagnostic tool for the clinician with regard to exclusion of PE.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pulmonary Embolism
/
Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
/
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
Journal subject:
TERAPIA INTENSIVA
Year:
1998
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France