Comparative evaluation of d-dimer assays for exclusion of deep venous thrombosis in symptomatic outpatients

• Published in: Thrombosis research 2003, Vol.112 (1), p.25-32
• Main Authors: Engelhardt, Wolfgang, Palareti, Gualtiero, Legnani, Cristina, Gringel, Erika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; d-Dimer; Decision Support Techniques; Deep venous thrombosis; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted - methods; Diagnosis, Differential; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - analysis; Humans; Leg - blood supply; Medical sciences; Radioimmunoassay - instrumentation; Radioimmunoassay - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Risk Assessment - methods; Sensitivity and Specificity; Venous Thrombosis - blood; Venous Thrombosis - diagnosis
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2003.11.002

Diagnostic work-up of patients sent to the hospital for diagnosing of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) often combines the determination of d-dimer and the application of a clinical probability score. To fulfill diagnostic as well as economic needs, d-dimer assays should exhibit a high negative predictive value (NPV) as well as reasonable specificity. In this study, we evaluated both a latex-enhanced immunoassay for use on routine coagulation analyzers and a radial partition immunoassay (RPIA) for use on a point-of-care analyzer. Samples included were from 344 outpatients with suspected deep venous thrombosis. Among them, 100 had deep venous thrombosis. Results obtained for both assays show a good efficiency for exclusion of deep venous thrombosis with well-acceptable specificity.