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J Clin Pathol 2001;54:664-668

D-Dimer testing: the role of the clinical laboratory in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

  1. B H Mavromatis,
  2. C M Kessler
  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA
  1. Correspondence to:Dr Mavromatis mavromab{at}gunet.georgetown.edu
  • Accepted 26 February 2001

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a common, yet often unsuspected and unrecognised disease associated with a high mortality. New, objective, “user friendly” and cost effective diagnostic strategies are being explored. D-Dimers, the fibrinolytic degradation products of crosslinked fibrin, have emerged as the most useful of the procoagulant activity and ongoing fibrinolysis markers. D-Dimer measurements are very sensitive in excluding a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the setting of normal values, a low clinical suspicion, and non-diagnostic lung scans. Several assays have been developed and are reviewed.

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